DERRY'S JUDE MCATAMNEY RELEASED BY NEW YORK GIANTS

DERRY’S JUDE MCATAMNEY has been released by the New York Giants.

The 25-year-old kicker was cut from the practice squad, with German tight end Maximilian Mang taking his place as as the designated international player.

Jude McAtamney released by the New York Giants, leaves practice squad. International exemption for the Giants goes to German tight end Maximilian Mang.

Wishing Jude the best 👏 https://t.co/W63hBTth9Q

— Michael McQuaid (@McQuaidNFL) November 24, 2025

McAtamney returned to the Giants’ practice squad in October, having been cut when he missed two kicks in their 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos.

South Korean-American Younghoe Koo has since deputised for the injured Gano, with rookie Ben Sauls added to the Giants’ practice squad earlier this month.

McAtamney took up American football during the Covid-19 pandemic. After moving to the US in 2021, he signed for the Giants in 2024 as an undrafted free agent

He became the first Irish-born kicker to feature in a regular NFL game since 1985 when he replaced Gano against the Washington Commanders in November last year.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rolls out to pass against the Carolina Panthers. Alamy Stock Photo

Meanwhile, Brock Purdy thre for one touchdown and Christian McCaffrey ran for another to lift San Francisco over the Carolina Panthers 20-9 on Monday, boosting the 49ers’ NFL playoff hopes

The 49ers improved to 8-4, closing the gap on the NFC West division-leading Los Angeles Rams (9-2) and second-placed Seattle (8-3).

“It was a great win,” McCaffrey said. “But I know we’re hungry for more and I know we can be better.

Carolina fell two games adrift of the 49ers in the wildcard playoff hunt at 6-6 and dropped behind leader Tampa Bay (6-5) in the NFC South race.

Purdy, who won in his return last week after missing eight games with a toe injury, was intercepted three times but still able to throw for 193 yards and lead the 49ers to a vital victory.

McCaffrey ran 24 times for 89 yards and caught seven passes for 53 yards.

Jauan Jennings caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Purdy, escaping two would-be tacklers to reach the end zone as the 49ers took a 7-0 lead after a game-opening 15-play, 75-yard drive.

Purdy interceptions killed the next three 49ers drives, two of them pickoffs by Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, the last setting up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 25-yard field goal for Carolina with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter.

San Francisco answered on a 47-yard Matt Gay field goal to lift the 49ers ahead 10-3 at half-time.

McCaffrey’s 12-yard touchdown run against his former club late in the third quarter gave the 49ers a 17-3 edge.

Carolina responded with a 68-yard touchdown drive capped by Bryce Young’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan.

But a two-point conversion pass failed and the Panthers trailed 17-9 entering the fourth quarter.

Gay added a 29-yard field goal to put San Francisco ahead by the final margin.

- AFP

FALCONS PROVIDE AN NFL DRAFT SURPRISE BY TAKING WASHINGTON QB MICHAEL PENIX JR. WITH NO. 8 PICK

AP Photo 

 FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons provided the first major surprise of the NFL draft by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 overall pick on Thursday night.

The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting offensive skill players in the first round by drafting Penix one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally targeted for players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons chose Penix as the long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said he never wavered when Penix was available.

“Kirk Cousins is our quarterback,” Fontenot said. “Michael Penix, we’re talking about the future. We’re very excited about that quarterback room.”

New coach Raheem Morris said the Falcons wanted to draft Penix this year because they don't plan to draft as high as No. 8 again soon. It was a strong prediction for a franchise that hasn't had a winning season or made the playoffs since 2017.

“We’re talking about winning the (NFC) South and doing some things and going to the playoffs,” Morris. said. “We don’t want to be picking that high anymore. We don’t want to be in that position. ... That helped us make that decision.”

Morris said he would be thrilled if Penix is nothing more than an observer the next four years if that means Cousins is thriving as the starter.

“Nothing would make me feel better than watching Kirk Cousins play for four years,” Morris said.

Penix said he looks forward to learning from Cousins.

“I’m blessed with the opportunity,” Penix said. “I’m going to take advantage and make the most out of it. For me coming in behind Kirk Cousins, he’s a guy who has been in the league and ... played a lot of football. I’m going to come in and I'm gong to learn, I’m going to learn from him and try to soak in all the knowledge I can.”

The Falcons had been expected to use the pick to boost their pass rush.

The Falcons also focused on offensive playmakers with their last three first-round picks. Tight end Kyle Pitts was the No. 4 overall pick in 2021, followed by wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, each No. 8, the last two years.

Penix, who will be 24 as a rookie, led FBS schools with 4,903 passing yards and was third with 36 touchdown passes. He won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player.

Penix threw for 255 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions as No. 2 Washington fell to top-ranked Michigan 34-13 in the College Football Playoff championship game.

Penix began his college career at Indiana, where he tore his right ACL in 2018 and 2020 and had shoulder injuries in both 2019 and 2021.

Penix said he had a good feeling after working out for Falcons officials, including Fontenot, at Washington.

“They were great,” Penix. said. “They liked how I threw the ball. I feel like I put on a great performance that day in that throwing session. It was kind of quick but we made it worthwhile.”

Still, Penix said he didn't know if the Falcons' interest was serious until the call came during the draft. He said he spoke with Fontenot, Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

“To be able to hear that phone call come through It was just a blessing,” Penix said. “They asked me was I ready to be a Falcon. I said absolutely.”

Fontenot said this week he would consider selecting a quarterback high in the draft even when most of the outside focus had been on edge rushers.

“If we see a player that we believe can be a franchise quarterback at any point, whether it’s this draft, next draft, whether it’s a player we can trade for, whatever it is, you have to bring that player in because we’re talking about the next four to five years plus when we’re talking about guys that we’re drafting,” Fontenot said.

The Falcons' draft won't by impacted by the NFL’s investigation of the team's possible violation of tampering policies before signing Cousins, who appeared to indicate he had been in communication with team officials at a time the team would have been permitted to talk only with his agent.

-  CHARLES ODUM

LIONS TAME BUCS, REACH FIRST NFC TITLE IN 32 YEARS

 

Jared Goff. USA TODAY Sports 

Jared Goff passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and the Detroit Lions advanced to the NFC Championship Game with a 31-23 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

Seeking their first Super Bowl berth, the Lions will travel to California to face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday. Detroit will be playing in the conference title game for the first time since the 1991 season.

Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 74 yards, including the go-ahead 31-yard score in the fourth quarter. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Sam LaPorta had nine receptions for 65 yards for Detroit.

The Lions' second playoff win in as many weeks came three years to the day after Dan Campbell was introduced as the downtrodden franchise's new head coach.