Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur appears to lack confidence in rookie kicker Anders Carlson.
“I just pray every time he goes out there,” LaFleur expressed concerning his kicker before the team’s 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional round on Saturday night, according to Fox broadcaster Tom Rinaldi.
Although Carlson wasn’t the sole reason for Green Bay’s loss on Saturday, his missed 41-yard field goal just before the 49ers took a 24-21 lead with a touchdown from Christian McCaffrey added to the team’s challenges.
😅😅😅 pic.twitter.com/ynRhFCvlR1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 21, 2024
If Carlson had made the field goal, the Packers would have led 24-17, and McCaffrey’s touchdown would have only tied the game rather than proving to be the game-winner.
Nonetheless, the ultimate responsibility for the loss fell on Jordan Love, who was intercepted by 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw with less than one minute remaining in the game.
The Packers drafted Carlson in the sixth round of the 2023 draft from Auburn, choosing to move on from Mason Crosby, who had been with the team for 16 years from 2007-2022.
Carlson’s struggles began during the regular season, making 27 of 33 field goals (81.8 percent) and 34 of 39 extra-point attempts (87.2 percent). Notably, he made just four of eight field goals between 40 and 49 yards and three of five field goals from 50-plus yards.
INT NO. 2 FROM DRE GREENLAW!
📺: #GBvsSF on FOX
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In Green Bay’s wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys last weekend, Carlson made six of seven extra-point attempts but did not attempt a single field goal as the Packers secured a 48-32 victory.
Despite Carlson’s challenges this season, there is a possibility that the Green Bay management will give him another opportunity in 2024. However, if his performance continues to be inconsistent next season, more questions may arise about finding a potential replacement.
