Dominic Zvada’s rough stretch in Week 7 might have looked like the start of a kicking crisis, but John Harbaugh isn’t treating it that way.
After the Giants beat the Texans 27-21 in overtime on Sunday, Zvada’s missed chances stood out even in a game with plenty of positives. J.J.
McCarthy looked sharp in his first start, Cam Skattebo bounced back after being benched the week before, and the Giants walked away with a statement win. Still, Zvada left points on the field with two first-half misses, a 56-yarder and a 44-yarder, both sailing wide right.
At one point, Harbaugh even chose to pass on a long field goal look, taking a delay of game and punting rather than sending Zvada out for a 55-yard attempt.
That sequence made it easy to assume the Giants might bring in competition during the bye week. Instead, Harbaugh said he’s not ready to panic on the rookie.
"He'll be fine. I'm not really worried about Zvada," said Harbaugh.
"He's got to go do it, but I'm totally confident he will because I know how good he is. I know what a good head he has.
I do think it's part of the growing pains for a young kicker and he'll get it straight. But man, just put your foot in the ground, follow through the right way, and pound that thing right through the middle of the uprights."
For now, that sounds like a coach still invested in the player rather than one preparing to move on. Harbaugh’s comments point more toward mechanical cleanup than a roster shake-up, which means Zvada likely won’t have to stare down a new challenger in the immediate future.
That trust has been earned, even if the recent results have been uneven. Over the first four games, Zvada was spotless, going nine-for-nine on field goal attempts and validating Harbaugh’s choice to name him the starter out of training camp. Then Week 5 hit, and things changed fast.
Against Washington in rainy Landover, Zvada missed from 46, 50, and 57 yards. The weather made it hard to pin everything on nerves alone.
The next week, he didn’t have many chances in a Giants loss to the Saints, but he did convert both of his field goal tries. Then came Sunday in Houston, and another rocky performance.
The Giants are counting on him to steady himself, especially with the schedule tightening up after the bye. Their next two games come against the Eagles and Commanders, four days apart, and both matchups could matter in the NFC East race. That leaves little room for a kicking game that gives away points.
The Giants have lived through much shakier kicking situations before. Last season brought Graham Gano, Jude McAtamney, Younghoe Koo, and Ben Sauls into the mix.
Zvada is still a long way from that kind of turmoil. But if the misses keep piling up and they start costing games, competition will not be far behind in East Rutherford.
In Other News...
Giants In First Place But One Roster Decision Just Got Tougher
The Giants have put themselves in a far better place than anyone could have expected this early, sitting atop the NFC East after a stretch that has featured real progress at quarterback and a defense that keeps showing up. J.J. McCarthys first start for the team gave the offense a steadier feel, Jaxson Dart is still working through his rehab, and a few important pieces around them have helped steady the week-to-week picture.
Deonte Banks coverage against the Texans was another reminder that the roster is holding up in key spots, while Abdul Carters presence has helped keep the competitive edge sharp inside the building. Even so, being in first place tends to sharpen every personnel choice, and one move that once might have seemed straightforward has become a lot more complicated as the Giants try to balance short-term traction with the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Skattebo Just Gave The Giants A Backfield Debate They Need
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The debate is whether that edge is worth the risk. Skattebo was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a run early in the game, a call he and coach John Harbaugh disputed, and he made clear after the win that he is going to keep playing with the same aggressive mindset even if it brings fines or more penalties. For a Giants backfield still searching for the right identity, that leaves the team with a talent worth leaning on and a style that may not always come free. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Bye Week Could Bring A Roster Shakeup Fans Didn't Expect
The Giants bye week is turning into more than a breather, with general manager Joe Schoen using his time off the field to survey what could come next before the NFL trade deadline. He said the front office is still weighing both trade and free-agent possibilities, a sign that New York is treating the coming days as a chance to recheck the roster and see whether there is a path to improve it.
Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh are set to meet and sort through those options, and the fact that nothing is being ruled out gives this stretch a little extra intrigue. Around the roster, attention is already starting to shift to a few players whose roles have not matched expectations, which is why this week could wind up bringing a few surprises if the Giants decide to make a move. [Read more 🡒]