Dominic Zvada
Zvada is the Giants' kicker for now: the coach publicly backs him despite a recent slump, and he is a rookie with a strong leg who has to fix his accuracy to keep the job.
Role
He is the Giants' lone placekicker and takes all field goals, extra points and kickoffs. Reports say the Giants cut incumbent Ben Sauls and veteran Jason Sanders, and Harbaugh said on Monday there are no plans to work out other kickers. He is 4 of 9 on field goals over the last three games after starting 9 of 9. He has not missed an extra point (12 of 12 through Week 7, per Jingletree). He has sent kickoffs through the end zone for touchbacks in two straight games. The Giants have a bye next, and Athlon's Week 7 piece says two weeks before the next game. Athlon noted all five misses came in two games and that he is 9 of 9 at home. The Giants are atop the NFC East per Athlon, so more late-game kicks are likely, but I found no attempt-volume numbers.
Harbaugh says he is not worried and calls the slump rookie growing pains. He also cited a plant-foot issue behind the 2-for-5 day against Washington. The misses are bunched in two games, he is perfect at home and on extra points, and his longest make is 56 yards. The team picked him over Sauls and cut other options, so it has invested in him. A bye week gives him time to reset.
The slump is real: 4 of 9 over three games, with misses on 56, 44 and 46 yards, and the coaches punted on a 55-yard attempt after his two misses against Houston, which looks like lost trust. Kickoff touchbacks at the start of overtime in consecutive weeks add to the worry. Harbaugh's "for now" backing, phrased as no tryout "right now," is not a long-term guarantee, and the job could change if the misses continue. Fewer long attempts would also cap his scoring chances.
Where analysts split
The disagreement is whether this is a short, fixable slump or a sign of a rookie kicker losing confidence. Harbaugh and some outlets point to a technical plant-foot issue and the home/road split. Others note the punt on a 55-yard attempt and the kickoff errors, and many expected a bye-week tryout that did not happen. Nobody I found says he will be replaced soon.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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