The Green Bay Packers made a few unpopular roster decisions during the 2023 offseason. The most noteworthy, of course, was the trade that sent four-time NFL MVP and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Obviously, this decision was made so that Jordan Love, whom the Packers traded up to select in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, could take over as the starting quarterback.
Fortunately for Green Bay, that decision worked out as Love completed 64.2% of his passes for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 96.1 passer rating in his first year under center.
Unfortunately for Green Bay, not every unpopular decision had such a positive outcome.
The Green Bay Packers Drafted Anders Carlson to Replace Mason Crosby
Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
Another unpopular decision that the Packers made was not to re-sign the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Mason Crosby. In 2022, his final season in Green Bay, Crosby made 86.2% of his field goal tries and 94.5% of his extra point attempts. However, the Packers feared his leg had lost too much strength to be effective on kickoffs and on long-distance field goals (he was just 1/4 on attempts from 50+ yards).
As confusing as the decision was to cut such a reliable kicker, the Packers’ choice as a replacement was bewildering. They drafted Anders Carlson, the 10th ranked kicker in the draft, with a sixth-round pick.
Carlson was shaky in his first training camp and preseason, which led many to doubt that Green Bay had made the right decision.
His performance in the 2023 NFL season proved the doubters to be right.
As a rookie, Carlson made 81.8% of his field goal tries and just 87.2% of his extra point attempts. No kicker in the league missed as many kicks as he did. There was a stretch late in the year in which he missed at least one kick in 10 of 12 games.
As fans may recall, the Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers by three points in the NFL Playoffs. Carlson missed a field goal in that game, too.
The Green Bay Packers Brought in Greg Joseph to Compete with Anders Carlson for the Starting Job in 2024
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
One of the biggest mistakes that the Packers made last season was just handing Carlson the starting job. Unwilling to repeat the error, they brought in several kickers to compete for the job during OTA’s and training camp, most notably former Minnesota Vikings kicker Greg Joseph.
Last season, Joseph made 80.0% of his field goal attempts and 94.7% of his extra points.
The pair of kickers were neck and neck for most of the preseason, but Joseph had a couple of bad days that led to Carlson taking the lead in terms of kick percentage by the slimmest of margins.
But then came the Packers’ final preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. Both Carlson and Joseph made 50+ yards kicks, Carlson’s barely squeaking through from 54 yards out and Joseph’s 55-yard attempt going right down the middle with plenty of velocity.
Carlson came out later in the game for an easy 32-yard chip shot, and he missed it.
The Green Bay Packers Have Released Anders Carlson
On Tuesday morning, multiple NFL and Packers insiders reported that Carlson was going to be released by the Packers as they cut their roster to 53 players.
The Packers have released K Anders Carlson, a source confirms.
There will be a new kicker in Green Bay.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 27, 2024
Whether Joseph has won the competition, or if Green Bay will look to the waiver wire for a new kicker, remains to be seen.
The team did give kicker Alex Hale as their International Player Program designation, which means he can be on their practice squad and not count towards the 16 spots allowed.
However, he needs more work before he can be relied upon in an NFL game.
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