After struggling down the stretch of the 2023 regular season and playoffs, kicker Anders Carlson prompted the Packers to sign Jack Podlesny to a reserve/futures deal in January, followed by the addition of veteran Greg Joseph in March. The three kickers engaged in a competitive battle throughout the offseason, described by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky as an “intense three-way competition” this spring.
Demovsky suggests that this competition may extend into training camp due to Carlson’s disappointing rookie season conclusion. Despite a strong start, Carlson struggled in the latter part of the season missing 10 kicks and culminating in a crucial miss during a playoff game against the 49ers. His poor performance left a mark as he had the worst PAT success rate among qualified players in the 2023 regular season.
Despite his struggles, the team has expressed confidence in Carlson, especially after his strong showing during the offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur commended Carlson’s progress, stating, “I think Anders had a pretty solid spring. I think all these guys have kind of had their moments, but I think particularly of late, he’s done a really nice job.”
Joseph, on the other hand, had a lower FG success rate in 2023 but brings experience from his time with the Vikings, Browns, and Titans. Although his career conversion rate on field goal attempts is not impressive, Joseph believes he has a chance to challenge Carlson for the starting position with the Packers.
The underdog in the competition, Podlesny, previously signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent and joined the Packers amidst his search for non-football employment. Like Carlson, Podlesny finished the offseason on a positive note.
Both Podlesny and LaFleur remain unsure about the team’s plans for training camp regarding the kicking situation, keeping their decisions close to the vest for now.
“I think that’s to be determined, quite honestly,” LaFleur remarked after last week’s minicamp. “We’ll see how it all plays out, and ultimately that’s going to be [GM Brian Gutekunst‘s] decision. But that’s something that we’ve certainly talked about.”