Kicker Remains Biggest Question for Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers have a few weeks until training camp gets underway at the end of July. Throughout the offseason, they have been holding practices and workouts, with a few things sticking out.

Among the observations, this offseason has been the ongoing kicking competition. After not facing competition for the job as a rookie, Anders Carlson has been joined by veteran Greg Joseph and Jack Podlesny, an undrafted rookie in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia has done a great job handling an unorthodox situation. He is making sure all of the guys are getting enough reps to showcase their talent, as teams rarely carry multiple kickers in the offseason, let alone three.

As we move along into the summer, the kicking competition is what many people will keep an eye on. In the opinion of Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, it is the training camp battle that will be worth keeping tabs on the most.

“The answer here is more of a question: Who in the world is going to be the Packers’ kicker come Week 1 in Brazil? Anders Carlson missed a field goal and/or extra point in nine of the final 12 games last season, including a 41-yarder in the fourth quarter of a three-point divisional-round loss to the 49ers. He didn’t have any competition from late May through the end of the season, but the Packers now have three kickers and have given each equal run this offseason with each having their impressive moments. Can the incumbent hold off youngster Jack Podlesny and veteran Greg Joseph?”

The inconsistency that Carlson showed down the stretch of his rookie season was more than enough reason for competition to be brought in this offseason. He has a huge leg, but accuracy remained an issue at times.

The Green Bay Packers could have easily been taking part in the NFC Championship Game instead of the San Francisco 49ers had he made that kick. It changed the entire landscape of the game, as a double-digit point lead was erased in minutes.

From reports that are coming out of Green Bay, it does sound like Carlson is responding well to the competition. Reports are positive about his performance to this point, as he knows he needs to produce to keep his job.

A sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Auburn, Carlson had a difficult job. All the attention was on Jordan Love replacing a legend in Aaron Rodgers, but Carlson was replacing a legend as well.

He took over the job from Mason Crosby, who was not brought back in 2023. He spent 16 seasons as the kicker for the Green Bay Packers before Carlson was drafted last year. In 2023, Crosby spent three games with the New York Giants as they had several kickers suffer injuries.

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