Matt

Gono

Eric Smith was signed in a corresponding move. Gono underwent neck surgery last year, but his symptoms returned in training camp earlier this month. He saw a specialist for the issue and was reportedly mulling retirement when the team placed him on the exempt/left squad list. Barring a surprising turn of events, Gono is likely done in the NFL. Gono appeared in 21 games, all for the Falcons, and earned four starts.

Last season, Gono had surgery to correct an issue in his neck. When the Giants took to the practice field and began hitting earlier this week, the symptoms Gono felt before his surgery began to flare back up. According to Raanan, Gono reportedly left the team facilities to go see the specialist who performed his surgery and was subsequently placed on the exempt/left squad list for the time being. He missed all of the 2021 season with the Falcons because of the same injury.

Gono, 26, is contemplating retirement. The backup tackle signed a one-year deal with the G-Men in the offseason after appearing in 21 games for the Falcons in 2019-20 before spending all of last year on PUP.

Gono was cut by Atlanta in January after missing the entire 2021 season with a neck injury. He offers the Giants some upside on the offensive line if healthy. Gono has played at both tackle and guard and should provide the Giants with some improved depth, with potential to start.

Gono played 21 games with the Falcons from 2019-2020 before landing on the team’s physically unable to perform list for the entirety of last year. He has experience at left guard and right tackle and could compete for a starting position on the correct team in free agency.

He’ll sit out all of training camp and attempt to return down the road. 25-year-old Gono made four starts last year, enough to earn a second-round tender in March, and was the early favorite to replace LG James Carpenter. He’s instead expected to open the year on Atlanta’s PUP list, allowing Josh Andrews to begin camp at left guard.

ESPN’s Michael Rothstein reports it’s “not season ending.” The injury is undisclosed, but it’s expected to be an extended absence. The Falcons liked Gono, who made four starts last year, enough to give him a second-round tender in March, and he was the favorite to replace LG James Carpenter. Gono seems likely to open 2021 on IR, costing him a minimum of three games.

Gono was a restricted free agent tendered at the second-round level. The soon-to-be 26-year-old made four starts last season, including three at right tackle and one at left guard. He didn’t hold up particularly well at either spot, but that kind of versatility is invaluable, especially for a line like Atlanta’s that has not been able to get right in recent years. Gono will not be a 2021 starter, but a jack of all trades.