Greg Joseph is hoping to bring Giants fans happier times than when he ruined Christmas Eve.
The Giants signed Joseph to their active roster off of the Lions practice squad on Tuesday, according to his agent, Brett Tressler.
He will kick in place of Graham Gano, who was put on injured reserve (hamstring) and will miss at least four weeks.
Joseph, 30, set the Vikings’ franchise record for longest field goal when he drilled a 61-yarder as time expired to beat the Giants on Dec. 24, 2022.
It was part of a season in which he set the NFL record for game-winning field goals (five) as the Vikings went 11-0 in one-score games before losing a playoff rematch against the Giants.
The Giants held a tryout Monday for four kickers — Randy Bullock, Tanner Brown, Zane Gonzalez and Riley Patterson — but did not sign any. Brown subsequently signed with the Rams practice squad.
Bullock was 5-for-6 on field goals and 10-for-10 on PATs for the Giants last season as an injury fill-in for Gano, but the opportunity is going to Joseph this time. Joseph has converted 82.6 percent of his field goals (100-for-121) and 90.1 percent of his PATs (146-for-162) during his career with the Browns, Titans and Vikings.
Joseph was with the Packers in training camp and made the initial 53-man roster but was cut before the regular season began. He joined the Lions just six days ago.
The Giants could have turned to their own practice-squad kicker — rookie Jude McAtamney — but opted for more experience.
There was an open spot on the 53-man roster.
Gano first injured his groin on Saturday, but the Giants opted not to elevate McAtamney as a contingency plan for Sunday’s game.
When Gano injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff, the Giants turned to punter Jamie Gillan, who missed a PAT and committed a landing-zone violation on a kickoff.
Joseph led the NFL in touchback percentage in 2021.
Joseph is guaranteed at least three weeks of salary as a signing from another team’s practice squad.
The Giants also claimed linebacker Patrick Johnson off of waivers from the Eagles, where he spent the last four seasons playing mostly special teams.