Ex-Giants center Nick Gates ‘agrees to $16.5m, three-year deal with Commanders’

After several injury plagued seasons with the New York Giants, offensive lineman Nick Gates is moving on to NFC East rival Washington, where he’s reportedly agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year deal with the Commanders.

Commanders spokespeople declined to confirm the news, which was first reported by NFL Network.

The 27-year-old Gates suffered a gruesome broken fibula and tibia against Washington in 2021, but has since managed to return from the career-threatening injury.

After seven surgeries, Gates finally played for the Giants again midway through the 2022 season, starting eight of the final nine games, while rotating with Ben Bredeson at left guard.

Gates also started for the Giants in the playoffs.

After several injury plagued seasons with the New York Giants, offensive lineman Nick Gates is moving on to NFC East rival Washington, where he’s reportedly agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year deal with the Commanders

He was voted a team captain in 2022 as he continued to rehabilitate his broken leg.

‘It definitely gets a little lonely,’ Gates told reporters in December of his comeback. ‘All the guys in the locker room have had my back. They tried to include me as much as they could, but it was a roller coaster of emotions, I’m not going to lie.

‘At one point after I had my last surgery, which was No. 7, they had to take the rod out because I had an infection in my bone and put another rod in,’ he added. ‘I thought I wasn’t going to be able to play this year, at least not until midway.’

‘At one point after I had my last surgery, which was No. 7, they had to take the rod out because I had an infection in my bone and put another rod in,’ he added. ‘I thought I wasn’t going to be able to play this year, at least not until midway.’

Nick Gates of the New York Giants warms up against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium on January 1, 2023 in East Rutherford

Gates, who made the Giants as a free agent out of Nebraska in 2018, can vividly recall every procedure on his leg. It started with surgeons putting in a rod and two screws. He later got compartment syndrome and doctors had to slice the leg open to relieve the swelling. It led to an ugly scar and later skin grafts. Finally the infection in the tibia forced a change of rods earlier this year.

Gates had his down moments and he talked with Dr. Lani Lawrence, the team’s sports psychologist. She told him it was normal to feel that way and it was part of the process of healing and moving forward, he said.

‘I’m like: ‘I just want to be back out there again with the guys and just have fun,’ Gates said. ‘What other job lets you hit people and basically do whatever you want? It’s a fun time.’

Gates appears to be the Commanders’ likely starter at center next season in between five-time Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner and All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell.