McAtamney, Smyth and McNamee make practice squads

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27 August 2025, 21:49 BST

Updated 2 hours ago

Jude McAtamney, Charlie Smyth and Mark McNamee have been confirmed on the practice squads of their respective NFL teams after missing out on the active rosters for the 2025 season.

On Tuesday, McAtamney lost out to veteran Graham Gano as the New York Giants finalised their 53-man roster for the start of the new season, which begins next week.

Dubliner McNamee has been added to the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad after missing out on the roster.

Former Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth was confirmed as one of 15 players on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad.

While practice squads are capped at 16 players, franchises are allowed a 17th if one is a qualifying international player.

Former Derry underage Gaelic footballer McAtamney – who played college football for Rutgers – was one of 13 players confirmed on the Giants’ practice panel on Wednesday.

McAtamney, 25, handled kicking duties in the pre-season victories over the New York Jets and New England Patriots, kicking 10 extra points and a field goal between both games, while playing in the second half of the pre-season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

Last season, McAtamney was called from the practice squad into the Giants team for the regular-season game against the Washington Commanders when Gano sustained an injury.

McNamee was confirmed as part of the Packers’ practice squad having taken all of the kick-offs in the opening pre-season game against the New York Jets despite landing in the United States just the day before.

He saw more action in the second game against the Indianapolis Colts, kicking a 43-yard field goal and two extra points, but also missed a field goal attempt from 39 yards and an extra point.

Regular kicker Brandon McManus took all of the Packers’ kicks in their final pre-season game.

Smyth had a productive pre-season with the Saints, playing in the second half of each of their games and kicking field goals in the games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos.

During Saturday’s 28-19 loss to the Broncos, Smyth scored from 52 yards.

However, Grupe started each of those games with head coach Kellen Moore opting to keep the 26-year-old as his kicker for the start of the new campaign.