Giants OL Nick Gates activated year after breaking leg, source says

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The fairy-tale comeback for New York Giants offensive lineman Nick Gates has ended. According to a source, he will be added to the roster on Wednesday.

Gates' football career was in danger after he broke his fibula and tibia in Week 2 of last season. He had to have a rod removed from his leg in the spring due to a problem. There was a time when the veteran lineman was afraid to lose his leg.

Gates said he was feeling great and would return. The Giants opened his practice window three weeks ago while he was on the physically unable to perform list. If they didn't allow him to return to the physically unable to perform list by the 21 day deadline, he would be activated.

It's the right time for Gates to come back. The right tackle and left guard are expected to be out for a while.

Gates started all of the Giants' games in 2020. When he was injured in Washington 13 months ago, he was a guard. Gates took over at center when Jon was limited by injury.

In the 23-17 win over the Jags, Feliciano played every offensive snap.

The Giants wanted to give Gates time to get back into shape. They haven't had a padded practice since his window was open because of their busy schedule.

The Giants like what they've seen.

"Nick has done a good job since he's been here working out," the coach said.

Gates gives the Giants a lot of depth on the offensive line as they head into Sunday's game in Seattle.

The story of Gates has reached this point before. He asked the doctors if he was going to make it back onto the field.

Sonya Gates said that they all assured him he would.

Nick Gates smiled as he was taken away. He pumped his fist, assured his brother in a phone call that he would be fine and put out a video of him walking around the hospital with a walker.

It's all part of the game.

"Toughest dude on planet Earth" is how his agent, Jon Perzley, described Gates.