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Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez must capitalize on startling vote of confidence
The Washington Commanders opted for stability at the kicking position rather than making any drastic changes once again. Zane Gonzalez must take full advantage of this surprising vote of confidence in the coming weeks.
With incumbent starter Austin Seibert on injured reserve after coming back too soon against the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders turned to Gonzalez again in Week 13 versus the Tennessee Titans. Washington won the game convincingly, but the kicker’s performance left much to be desired.
Gonzalez missed two field goal attempts to the dismay of fans at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders got away with it thanks to their blistering start to blow away the Titans with minimal fuss. That won’t be the case when the competition gets tougher down the stretch and during the postseason.
Many thought this would lead the Commanders to an alternative option during their bye week. Instead, those in power signed Gonzalez to the active roster. That’ll be a significant confidence boost when the player needs it most.
Seibert has a couple of weeks left before he can be officially activated back on the roster. That provides a solid audition for Gonzalez to win the job or at least prove to other teams he can still operate effectively in a pressurized setting. Whether he can capitalize on it is another matter.
Zane Gonzalez must repay Commanders’ faith after the bye week
Things looked pretty promising for Gonzalez once upon a time. He was nothing short of sensational for the Carolina Panthers in 2021. Unfortunately for the Arizona State product, he suffered an injury in the team’s preseason game at the Buffalo Bills in 2022 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers the following summer but failed to make an impact. Gonzalez hadn’t played a competitive down since then before joining the Commanders, so there was always going to be some rust attached. Head coach Dan Quinn and his staff are banking on the player shaking this off with an extended period to rest and reflect over the bye week.
The Commanders cannot afford any weak links. They’ve put themselves in a strong position with the playoffs firmly in their grasp. Nothing is guaranteed just yet, so Gonzalez must provide assurance and conviction when attempting kicks to help cement Washington’s postseason status.
After that, things are less clear. Seibert’s exceptional form to begin the campaign probably indicates Washington will go back to him once medically cleared. That’s assuming he’ll get a pass for a disastrous outing versus the Cowboys.
That’s of no concern to Gonzalez. His primary focus will be on producing the goods and helping the Commanders achieve their goals for as long as he’s required.
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