Fitzgerald is not a kicker we suggest drafting in 2026. He had a mixed bag of a rookie season, struggling from distance and missing three extra points. Even if he makes some improvement in those areas, the Panthers offense is not one that scores enough points, as evidenced by his meager 30 extra-point attempts. If things look different, you may consider streaming Fitzgerald indoors against a bad defense, but you will do so with very little confidence.
Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Aims to build on strong rookie year
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Fitzgerald is set to open the 2026 campaign as Carolina's kicker following a standout rookie season, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
After entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Fitzgerald won Carolina's kicker job in training camp last year and held the role through the campaign, making 24 of 29 field-goal attempts and 27 of 30 extra-point tries over 17 regular-season games. Even more impressively, he tied for the league lead with four game-winning FGs and ranked third in opponents' average drive start, a measure of his effectiveness on kickoffs. Fitzgerald's rookie season also included two made field goals of 55-plus yards, so he's essentially checked all the boxes. He isn't expected to have any competition for the starting role heading into training camp.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Converts only FGA in loss
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Fitzgerald made his only field-goal attempt and extra-point try in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks.
Fitzgerald was limited to one field-goal attempt for the third time in the last four contests and eighth time overall this season, converting a 35-yard try in the second quarter. The rookie kicker has now gone 24-for-28 on field-goal tries, including 2-for-4 from 50-plus yards, while making 25 of 28 PATs over 16 contests.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Nails game-winning kick
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Fitzgerald made all three of his field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point tries during the Panthers' 23-20 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Fitzgerald nailed both of his field-goal attempts from 27 and 41 yards in the first half, and he gave the Panthers the lead with a 48-yarder late in the fourth quarter. Sunday marked the fourth time this season that Fitzgerald has connected on three field goals in a game, and the undrafted rookie is 23-for-27 on field-goal attempts and 24-for-27 on point-after tries through 15 regular-season games.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Perfect on five kicks in win
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Fitzgerald converted his lone field-goal attempt and all four extra-point tries in Carolina's 31-28 win over the Rams on Sunday.
Fitzgerald was good from 33 yards in the second quarter, giving the Panthers a 17-14 lead. The rookie kicker has had an inconsistent first season, but he was a perfect five-for-five on his kicks against Los Angeles. On the season, Fitzgerald has made 19 of 23 field-goal tries and 20 of 23 extra-point attempts.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Misses FG in Week 12 loss
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Fitzgerald converted one of two field-goal attempts in Carolina's 20-9 loss to San Francisco on Monday night.
Fitzgerald made a 25-yard field goal in the opening quarter, and his miss was a 57-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter. On the season, the rookie kicker has made 18 of 22 field-goal tries and just 16 of 19 extra-point attempts. Carolina could opt to look at other options at kicker in the coming weeks.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Quiet day in loss to New Orleans
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Fitzgerald missed his lone field-goal attempt and made one extra point in the Panthers' loss to the Saints on Sunday.
Fitzgerald's miss came from 48 yards out toward the end of the third quarter, as the kick was blocked at the line of scrimmage. The rookie kicker has now made just 14 of 17 field-goal attempts and 15 of 18 extra-point tries through 10 games this season.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Misses two kicks in Week 8 loss
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Fitzgerald went 1-for-2 on field-goal attempts and missed his lone extra-point try during the Panthers' 40-9 loss to the Bills on Sunday.
Fitzgerald put the Panthers on the board with a 48-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. His last-second field-goal try from 32-yards at the end of the first half sailed wide left, and he followed that up by missing a point-after try in the fourth quarter. Week 8 was the second time this season that Fitzgerald missed a field goal and an extra point in the same game. Through eight regular-season games, Fitzgerald has gone 13-for-15 on field-goal tries and 13-for-15 on extra-point attempts.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Nails game-winning kick
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Fitzgerald went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and made all three of his PATs in Sunday's 30-27 win over the Cowboys.
Fitzgerald made field goals from 31 and 55 yards in the first half, before connecting on a game-winning 33-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. The rookie has now gone 10-for-11 on field-goal tries, including 3-for-4 from 50-plus yards, while making 12 of 13 extra-point attempts over six games this season.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Perfect in win
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Fitzgerald went 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts and made all three of his extra-point tries in Sunday's 27-24 win over Miami.
Fitzgerald made a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half before later connecting on a 49-yarder to finish off the team's first possession of the third quarter. The kicker has now gone 7-for-8 on field-goal tries, including 1-for-2 from 50-plus yards, while making nine of 10 extra-point attempts over five games this season.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Remains perfect through Week 2
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Fitzgerald converted on his only field-goal attempt and his lone extra-point try in Sunday's 27-22 loss to the Cardinals.
Despite the Panthers scoring three touchdowns in Week 2, Fitzgerald attempted just one extra point, with Carolina electing to attempt two-point conversions on each of its first two scores. The 25-year-old also connected on a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter of Sunday's loss, cutting Arizona's lead to seven points at the time. He will look to remain perfect when the Panthers host the Falcons in Week 3.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Makes only FGA in Week 1
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Fitzgerald made his only field-goal attempt and a PAT in Sunday's 26-10 loss to the Jaguars.
Fitzgerald connected on a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter, tying the game at 3-3 in the early going. The kicker beat out Matthew Wright for the starting role in Carolina this season, and he has now opened the year with a spotless performance.
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Panthers' Ryan Fitzgerald: Wins Carolina's kicking job
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Fitzgerald is in line to start the 2025 regular season as the Panthers' kicker, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Fitzgerald was in a battle with Matthew Wright for the placekicking job in Carolina, and after Wright was released Monday, it now belongs to Fitzgerald. Over his last two seasons at Florida State, Fitzgerald made 32 of 34 field-goal tries and all 72 extra-point attempts.
