The Green Bay Packers’ kicking competition has intensified due to Anders Carlson’s underwhelming performance last season. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft to replace Mason Crosby, the Packers’ all-time leading scorer, Carlson struggled significantly. He managed only an 81.8% success rate on field goals and 87.5% on extra points. His difficulties were highlighted by missing at least one kick in 10 of the final 12 games, including both postseason matches.
Training camp this year has been challenging for both Carlson and Greg Joseph. According to Packers reporter Andy Herman, both kickers have faced issues, with Joseph having an especially poor day on Tuesday, hitting only one of four attempts. Joseph’s recent performance saw him miss a field goal in a 27-2 loss to the Denver Broncos, and his overall accuracy has dropped below 80%. Meanwhile, Carlson’s kicking accuracy remains lower compared to the previous season.
In an interesting move, the Packers have assigned the International Player Pathway (IPP) designation to Alex Hale, an Australian kicker who went undrafted this year. This designation allows Hale to join the team’s practice squad without counting against the roster limit. Hale had a strong college career at Oklahoma State, where he made 95.9% of his extra points and 79.6% of his field goals. However, he has also struggled in the current training camp.
The decision to designate Hale and release Kenneth Odumegwu, a defensive end from the International Pathway Player program, indicates the Packers’ intent to develop Hale further. This move will increase the practice squad to 17 players, as opposed to the usual 16. With Carlson and Joseph’s recent struggles, this adjustment suggests that the competition for the starting kicker role will remain tight. Carlson, despite his difficulties last season, currently holds an advantage, but his future as a long-term solution remains uncertain.
Ultimately, it appears that Carlson will start the 2024 season as the Packers’ kicker, with Hale being groomed as a potential successor. The situation underscores the ongoing uncertainty and high stakes surrounding the kicker position for Green Bay.