Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 31

Abdul Carter Impresses Giants After 2 Practices as Harbaugh Pushes Consistency in Year 2

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 31

Abdul Carter Impresses Giants After 2 Practices as Harbaugh Pushes Consistency in Year 2

Q: With one massive 57-yard kick, did an undrafted rookie just secretly win a crucial roster battle while everyone else was watching the defense?

Not yet, but Dominic Zvada may have tightened his grip on the job. The 57-yard make at the end of Thursday’s practice was significant because it reinforced what has been building since spring: Zvada has the bigger leg, and he has been the more eye-catching kicker in this competition. Reports from OTAs and minicamp described him as near-perfect or perfect in multiple sessions, including 13-for-13 at one minicamp stretch and makes from 53, 56 and 60 yards. Thursday’s kick added another public reminder of his range while much of the attention was on Abdul Carter and the defense. That said, one kick did not secretly end the battle. Ben Sauls still has real advantages. He made all eight field goals and all seven extra points in his three-game stint for the Giants last season, and he opened camp with the first-team reps on Day 1, going 4-for-5 while Zvada went 3-for-5. Sauls also has at least some NFL game proof, even if his range has been less impressive than Zvada’s. What Thursday did do was strengthen the broader trend. The Giants cut veteran Jason Sanders earlier, leaving this as a two-man race, and multiple camp and offseason reports have framed Zvada as the favorite because Sauls has had recurring accuracy issues in practices. If Zvada keeps pairing long range with steady accuracy in preseason game settings, that 57-yarder could be remembered less as a highlight and more as another step toward winning the roster spot.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 31

Two early camp practices have convinced John Harbaugh that Abdul Carter is "doing everything well," with the Giants coach saying the edge rusher spent plenty of time in the backfield.
Harbaugh still framed consistency as Carter's main next step, saying the 2025 No. 3 overall pick must deliver down after down and in all situations to become a complete player.
Carter enters his second NFL season after a solid but uneven rookie year of 4 sacks, 25 solo tackles and 23 quarterback hits in 17 games, while also drawing criticism for discipline lapses.
Jevon Holland said Carter's quick pressure disrupts offensive timing and forces fast throws, underscoring why the Giants believe the 22-year-old can turn his flashes into bigger production.