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John Keim, ESPN writer
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders have had multiple problems with their kickers this season, from serious lawsuits to injuries and ineffectiveness. But they never had a day like this: both kickers on their roster missed practice for the same reason.
Their wives were giving birth.
Washington kickers Zane Gonzalez and Greg Joseph missed practice to be with their wives.
“There’s never a dull moment around here,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday.
Gonzalez’s wife, Lizzy, gave birth to the couple’s first child. A week ago on Instagram, Zane González mentioned his wife as the “soon to be mother of our baby Luca!”
There is no information yet on Joseph’s wife, Taylor, and her delivery. Earlier this year, she posted on Instagram that they were having a boy, although she said they expected him to be born in January.
Both couples married last year and it is the first child for each.
“We have to find a certain name if they are both born today,” Quinn said. “There has to be some kind of twin that occurs along that.”
The good thing about kickers, punter Tress Way said, is that they usually don’t kick in practice until Thursday.
“If they have [footballs] and cleats, they can kick anywhere and keep their leg moving,” Way said. “Like going to the practice field.”
In case something strange happened at a game, Way said he spends one day a year kicking field goals. In fact, his only day occurred last week and, he said, his range is about 40 to 45 yards.
“But we have a good history of Hail Marys, so we can do that,” Way said, referring to quarterback Jayden Daniels’ 52-yard Hail Mary to beat the Chicago Bears on the final play earlier this season.
It’s been an interesting year for Washington and Placekickers. The Commanders have signed seven kickers since free agency opened in March; They have used four kickers during the regular season, starting with Cade York in the season opener.
They signed Austin Seibert a week later, but he missed a game with a hip injury and returned only to later hurt his groin and be placed on injured reserve. Washington then signed González to the active roster on December 2. He made all six extra point attempts in a 42-19 win over Tennessee on December 8, but injured his foot and was replaced by Joseph in a 20-19 win over New York. Orleans on Sunday. Joseph made two of three field goals.
When Gonzalez is healthy, he will be the primary kicker, Quinn said.
But for now, they will be united because their wives went into labor.
“Crazy,” Way said. “Crazy.”
