The kicking competition appeared to be over.
Anders Carlson was hot.
Greg Joseph had struggled down the stretch.
Then, Carlson did what he did so many times last year.
He pulled a Carlson.
Green Bay’s second-year kicker sent a 32-yard field goal wide right in the fourth quarter of the Packers’ 30-7 preseason win over Baltimore on Saturday. And just like that, it felt like Green Bay was back to square one.
Afterwards, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked if he felt his 2024 kicker was currently on the roster.
“You know, that’s not even a question for me, to be honest with you,” LaFleur said. “We’ve got a really good sample size, and then we’ll see what happens just around the league. Certainly there were some really good moments. Both those guys went in there, hit a 54-yarder and a 55-yarder, and then there’s a poor moment there where we missed a chip shot. You know, again, lotta good. Some we know we can be better at, and we’ll wait and see.”
Carlson missed more extra points (six) and total kicks (13) than anyone in football in 2023. Carlson also had a chance to give Green Bay a 24-17 lead over San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs, but missed a 41-yard field goal with just more than 5 minutes left. The 49ers then drove and won the game, 24-21.
So the Packers brought in veteran Greg Joseph to challenge for the job this summer.
During training camp, Carlson has made 60-of-73 kicks (82.2%) in practice, while Joseph is 57-of-73 (78.1%).
Carlson made a 54-yard field goal on the Packers’ first possession Saturday and it appeared he was a virtual lock to make the roster. But when he missed a chip shot late in the game, the only thing certain was uncertainty.
Afterwards, Carlson ducked the media and opted not to talk.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst must finalize his 53-man roster by Tuesday at 3 p.m. And the toughest decision Gutekunst now has is deciding between Carlson, Joseph, or acquiring a different kicker.
“There’s gonna be some very tough decisions,” LaFleur said of the Packers’ 53-man roster. “And sometimes, I’m like, man, I’m glad I don’t have to make the decision.”
Joseph made the decision much harder for his bosses by drilling field goals from 55 and 36 yards Saturday.
Joseph hit 20 straight kicks early in camp and was 29-of-31 midway through the summer (93.5%). Joseph slumped over the past 10 days, but put himself back in the running with a terrific performance Saturday.
“We’ll see,” Joseph said. “I feel like everything I’ve put out there I did without regret. I busted my butt, fought every day for this job and this team. The rest is a decision they’ll make.”
A year ago, Gutekunst felt he could roll the dice on a rookie kicker because there were zero expectations for a Green Bay team that had just traded future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Instead, the Packers surprised everyone by reaching the postseason and routing Dallas in the NFC Wild Card round.
Even with Carlson struggling down the stretch — and missing an extra point against the Cowboys — Gutekunst stuck with his rookie kicker. And that move blew up in the GM’s face when Carlson missed his biggest field goal of the year against San Francisco.
“He’s got to improve. That’s important,” Gutekunst said of Carlson this offseason. “I think he had a pretty solid year (in 2023), but there’s going to need to be a curve of getting better if that’s going to continue. I do like the way he approaches it. He’s very calm and handles the pressure very well. I’m excited to see what he does in Year 2.”
Now, the question becomes will Carlson get a second year?
Or will Gutekunst turn to Joseph or a kicker that’s released or on another roster?
If the Packers hope to challenge for a Super Bowl title — something they believe is possible — Gutekunst can’t get this answer wrong again.