Sports
Falcons Replace Kicker Romo with Veteran Gonzalez Ahead of Colts Game
Atlanta, GA — The Atlanta Falcons have signed veteran kicker Zane Gonzalez, replacing Parker Romo ahead of their Week 10 game against the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin. The move was reported by NFL Media on Tuesday, following Romo’s critical extra point miss in a narrow 24-23 loss to the New England Patriots.
Romo had been with the Falcons since stepping in for Younghoe Koo, who faced challenges early in the season. Romo’s performance included an 11-for-14 record on field goals and 12-for-13 on extra points. His most recent miss, which occurred late in the fourth quarter against New England, ultimately cost the Falcons the game, prompting the team to seek a replacement.
Zane Gonzalez, 30, last played for the Washington Commanders, where he was efficient, completing 5 of 7 field goal attempts and all 19 extra points in six games last season. Gonzalez has a career record of 96 for 120 on field goal attempts and 146 of 153 on extra points over 69 games in the NFL.
Gonzalez’s journey includes stints with the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and the Commanders. Despite a rocky start to his career, he found success after joining the Cardinals in 2018, where he improved his consistency.
The Falcons hope Gonzalez will provide stability at a critical position as they aim to bounce back from their recent loss. The team is optimistic that this change will help improve their kicking game, which has been a challenge this season.
“We’re looking for consistency,” said a Falcons insider. “Zane has proved he can deliver under pressure, and we believe he will be an asset moving forward.”
The Falcons will unveil their updated 53-man roster ahead of the game against the Colts this weekend.
