Nick Gates returned to the NFL field on Sunday, a little more than 13 months after his 2021 season, and nearly his career, were ended due to a gruesome leg fracture in Week 2 of last season.
“During the national anthem is when I kind of teared up,” Gates said. “I was standing there next to Mike Baum, my trainer, who was there when this happened and he was with me the whole way. I tried to make it a special moment with him and after that I was good.”
And after seven surgeries, a year of rehab, and three weeks of preparation off IR, the first play Gates got, late in the second quarter, was a one-yard Saquon Barkley touchdown run, with Gates making a key block to get Saquon into the end zone.
“It felt good. Everything felt strong and solid and I felt ready,” Gates said. “It was a special moment definitely. It was just a little bit surreal.”
“It's special, coming back from the injury, well-documented. Just want to be part of the team and do what he can,” head coach Brian Daboll added of Gates. “He's a great young guy to work with and we know his story, so we'll just keep working with him.
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Gates has said in the past that he’s thankful the new regime stuck with him, despite having no ties to Gates or his injury, and he worked hard to prove that he could get healthy and come back and contribute.
“It definitely feels good. Good fun to get back out there with the team and be out there with the guys,” Gates said. “It sucks we lost, but it was a little moral victory for me.”
“Just having him out there provides energy,” Daboll said. “He was excited all week.”
Perhaps the only person as excited as Gates for that play was Barkley himself.
“That story is amazing. What he’s been through, the way that he worked, that he never gave up, the attitude he had, I’m really happy for that guy,” Barkley said. “We’ve been together from the beginning of our career and to see him get back on the field means the world.”
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Gates wasn’t sure how much he would play, but after his touchdown block, he took four more snaps on offense, often as an extra blocker/eligible receiver, and played three on special teams.
“Cool moment, just to see him suit up and run back out there today, and knowing what he's been through, knowing what he had to overcome, really not that long ago,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “So much respect to him and how hard he's worked and it's cool to see that and see him out there today. He played well.”
Eight snaps that, 13 months ago, seemed like they may never come.
“I didn't really know how many (snaps) I was going to get or not, it just depended on the game and the situations,” Gates said. “I knew I was definitely going to get some on field goal or go in for heavy type stuff, but I was just going in there open minded because I didn't know how many I was going to get.”
Gates isn’t sure how much run he’ll get in the second half of the Giants’ season, but Barkley already has the end of the season in mind?
“He’s the comeback player of the year, in my mind,” Barkley said with a smile.
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