McAtamney took up kicking during the Covid-19 pandemic having been inspired by the news that David Shanahan from Kerry would be playing in the college game for Georgia Tech.
He made sufficiently quick progress to be offered a scholarship to study at Chowan University in North Carolina in 2021, before transferring to Rutgers a year later then signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent this spring.
He impressed in the Giants’ final pre-season game against the New York Jets, kicking two field goals from 23 and 43 yards, but lost out in the race for the starter’s berth Graham Gano.
The Scottish-born Gano, 37, injured his hamstring in the Giants’ first meeting with the Commanders in September, but McAtamney had not yet been elevated to the active roster.
Left without a kicker after the opening kick-off, the Giants lost that game 21-18 with all the Commanders’ points coming from field goals.
In response, the organisation brought in free agent kicker Joseph, with the former Minnesota Viking making 13 of his 16 field goals and all six attempted points after touchdowns [PATs] since.
Having been placed on injured reserve, Joseph is not able to feature in a game until the Giants host the New Orleans Saints on 8 December.