Graham Gano is dealing with a neck injury that could keep him off the field and a torrent of abuse that too often follows him off it.

The Giants’ veteran kicker said Thursday he’s been diagnosed with a herniated disc that is pressing against his spinal cord.

“Had some nerve stuff going on,” Gano said. “Then went to the doctor and he said it was a herniated disc in my neck. … I had an injection yesterday on my spine. Hopefully that will start helping out.”

The 38-year-old said that he’s also been absorbing death threats from fans, with the Giants and NFL security having tracked threatening messages for over three years. He says the abuse spiked again after last Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Gano split two field-goal attempts in the game, missing from 45 yards shortly before halftime.

“I hear everyone else’s frustration, media, fans. I mean, shoot, ever since sports betting started happening, I get people telling me to kill myself every week,” Gano said. “Because I’ll hit a kick that loses them money. I’ll miss a kick, and it loses them money. It was the other day somebody told me to get cancer and die. I mean, that stuff’s part of it.”

The back issue flared after he kicked against San Francisco. He initially chalked up the discomfort to sleeping awkwardly, then aggravated it lifting on Monday. He received an injection and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. If he can’t go against the Bears, veteran Younghoe Koo would handle kicks.

Health setbacks have piled up for Gano across three straight seasons, including an IR stint earlier this year for a groin injury. The run of misfortune has made him an easy target.

“I really don’t respond,” Gano said. “If I start seeing that stuff, I just shut it off… I’ve gotten thick skin over the years.”

Gano has made 9 of 10 field goal attempts in five games this season. For his career, he has connected on 342 of 408 field goals (83.8 percent) in 207 games.

–Field Level Media

Sun splashed the Chicago Bears’ practice field and temperatures were above 60 on Thursday, but the arrival of the New York Giants in 48 hours might look much different.

Wind gusts up to 33 miles per hour and the threat of the first lake effect snowstorm at Soldier Field on the banks of Lake Michigan are waiting for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and the Giants if current forecast models are accurate.

“It’s definitely not my first weather game. I’m from Utah,” said Dart, who attended USC but transferred before Bears quarterback Caleb Williams arrived as a transfer from Oklahoma. “If you know anything about Utah, I played in four seasons. I played in snow games in high school. That’s not something that is new to me. I played out at high school where the wind blew, it was right outside of a canyon. I dealt with that every single day as well.”

Accuweather downgraded the chance of snow to a chance for morning flurries pregame in Chicago. Other local forecasts are holding off on dismissing accumulating snow. A sharp temperature decline — with a ripe real-feel temperature of 28 degrees at kickoff — and the wind direction pulling air from Canada and Minnesota with sustained 18 mph winds out of the northwest could create another shift in the outlook.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll took note of the potential for iffy weather earlier in the week only to check back in and find something completely different.

“You look at the weather, that changes. It’s changed a number of times,” Daboll said. “So, if you think it’s going to be wet, raining, snowing, it’s changed a number of times. Last time I looked at it, it looked 36 degrees and sunny.”

–Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts’ newly acquired All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner cleared concussion protocol on Thursday and is expected to play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Berlin.

The Colts sent first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell at the trade deadline on Tuesday to the New York Jets for Gardner, 25.

He recorded 20 tackles and six passes defensed in the first seven games this season before missing the Week 8 win at Cincinnati in concussion protocol. The Jets (1-7) had a bye last weekend. He was a full participant at the Colts’ practice on Wednesday.

Indianapolis (7-2) is tied with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos for the best record in the NFL through nine weeks.

“I’ve barely slept,” Gardner said Wednesday of adjusting to his new team and preparing for his next game. “Every single minute that I’ve had being here in Indianapolis, I’m doing something — whether it’s with the trainings, whether it’s filling out paperwork, whether it’s practice, watching film … it’s been a crazy 48 hours. Obviously, it’s midseason, so this has been the craziest 48 hours.”

Gardner was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 and is a two-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro first-team selection since being drafted with the No. 4 overall pick in 2022.

He signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July that made him the NFL’s highest-paid player at his position with a $30.1 million average annual value.

Gardner has recorded three interceptions, 46 passes defensed, 201 tackles and one forced fumble in 55 games (all starts).

–Field Level Media

The Denver Broncos can become the first NFL team to reach the eight-win mark when they play host to the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night to open Week 10.

The Broncos have been kings of late comebacks while surprisingly being tied for the best record in the NFL. Denver (7-2) seeks its seventh straight victory when it faces its longtime AFC West rivals.

Las Vegas (2-6) has dropped six of its past seven games, including a 30-29 home overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday.

ODDS AND TRENDS
The Broncos are consensus 9.0-point favorites. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 64% of the spread-line money. Denver has covered the spread in each of its past four games as the favorite against AFC West rivals.

Denver’s moneyline sat at -500 on Thursday afternoon but that hadn’t dissuaded the public, which has backed the Broncos with 90% of the total ML bets and 95% of the money.

The total points line of 43.0 has seen the Over supported by 54% of the money. Seven of the Raiders’ past eight road games against AFC West teams have gone Under the total points line.

PROP PICKS
–Broncos QB Bo Nix 200+ Passing Yards (-207 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book, with Nix throwing for at least 242 yards in four of his past six games. While better potential payouts are available on 210+ (-155), 220+ (-118), 230+ (+110) and 240+ (+145), there is cause to be cautious considering the likelihood of Denver leaning heavier on the ground when the game gets comfortably in hand.

–Broncos RB RJ Harvey Anytime TD (+210 at BetRivers): The rookie has had a difficult time earning consistent snaps in the backfield with veteran J.K. Dobbins ahead of him, but Harvey has found the end zone four times over the past two weeks. Two of those were as a receiver, with Nix targeting Harvey five times last week for 51 yards and a score.

INSIDE EDGE
Harvey’s role in the passing game figures to only increase as the season progresses. According to Inside Edge’s Remarkable engine, Dobbins has averaged only 8.3 receiving yards per game since the start of the 2024 season, which is the lowest among qualified running backs.

SERIES HISTORY
Denver swept the Raiders last season after losing the previous eight matchups. The Broncos also enter with a nine-game home winning streak.

NIX-ING ANY CRITICS
Nix (1,976 yards, 17 touchdowns) is developing a big reputation for coming through in the clutch. That includes four fourth-quarter comebacks during Denver’s current win streak.

“Bo’s just being Bo,” said Denver receiver Courtland Sutton. “Week in and week out, he shows up. … He finds a way. He’s a gamer. The dude shows up. We know that when we have him back there, we have a chance to win the game. I think that’s the most fun thing and confident thing to be able to have is to know the guy back there is going to give us a chance to win the game.”

RAIDERS’ NEW LOOK
Second-year tight end Brock Bowers is coming off a monstrous game with 12 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. He is the first Raiders’ tight end with three scoring catches in a game since franchise legend Todd Christensen in 1986.

The Raiders traded veteran receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars on Tuesday for Jacksonville’s fourth- and sixth-round picks next year. That came a week after signing veteran Tyler Lockett, who played for coach Pete Carroll and with quarterback Geno Smith in Seattle.

INJURY REPORT
Las Vegas defensive tackle Adam Butler (back) and safeties Lonnie Johnson (fibula) and Isaiah Pola-Mao (hip) are questionable for Thursday’s game. Backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell (right wrist) was ruled out.

Star cornerback Patrick Surtain II (pectoral) sat out both practices this week and will miss his second straight game. Tight end Nate Adkins (knee) and receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (concussion) also were ruled out. Safety P.J. Locke (neck) is questionable.

THEY SAID IT
–“We’ve heard a lot about the win streak, but we’re not even really thinking about that because we have so many things that we want to correct. We feel like we haven’t even played a complete game offensively. We’re all in a growth mindset and we’re worried about the things we can fix.” –Nix on the Broncos’ streak.

–“It has to be multiple guys. Jakobi was such an impact player for us. I wish him the best. He was a great practice player, and I enjoyed coaching him. He was a heck of a kid, but we got some other receivers who are going to have to pick it up.” –Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly on replacing Meyers, who had 33 receptions for 352 yards with no touchdowns in seven games.

PREDICTION
In addition to these teams going in distinctly opposite directions over the past month-plus, the data points almost all support an easy Denver victory Thursday night.

Consider that according to the Remarkable engine, the Raiders have been successful on only 37.3% of their rushing attempts this season (fourth-worst in the NFL) while the Broncos have allowed a success rate of just 36.6% of rush attempts (second best).

If Las Vegas can’t run the ball effectively it figures to be a tough night on the road. The Raiders have run only 42.5% of their offensive plays on the opponent’s side of the ball (third worst), while the Broncos are second best in the league in allowing only 39.2% of plays to be run in their territory.

–Broncos 31, Raiders 20

–Field Level Media