The Green Bay Packers are making a big change at kicker. The team will release kicker Anders Carlson during final cuts on Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
After missing several big kicks to end his rookie season, Carlson labored through an inconsistent training camp, and he finished off his summer by missing a 32-yard field goal in the Packers’ preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens. It’s possible the final miss — on a chip shot field goal in perfect conditions inside Lambeau Field — sealed his fate.
As a rookie, Carlson made 27 of 33 field goals and 34 of 39 extra points during the regular season. He missed an extra point in the Packers’ playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys and a critical field goal in the fourth quarter of the Packers’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers a week later.
On kicks 40 yards or longer, Carlson was just 7-of-12. He led the NFL with five missed extra points. Overall, he missed 13 total kicks over 19 games.
The Packers drafted Carlson in the sixth round of the 2023 draft.
After a difficult end to the season, the Packers signed veteran Greg Joseph and had three other kickers on the roster — proving they were committed to finding a better answer.
Carlson competed with Joseph throughout training camp. The Packers also have rookie Alex Hale, who was designated as the team’s international pathway player. It’s unclear if Joseph will win the kicking job or if the Packers will attempt to find a kicker after final cuts.
