The Green Bay Packers have been looking for a dependable kicker throughout training camp, but it’s still a concern four weeks into the season.
Coach Matt LaFleur remains confident in rookie Brayden Narveson, even though he has already missed four field goals. This count does not include a missed 48-yarder against Tennessee that was wiped out by a penalty.
In a 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Narveson missed both of his attempts, hitting the right upright on a 37-yard try and sending a 49-yarder wide right, which contributed to the Packers falling behind 28-0 in the first half.
“It hurts,” Narveson said. “But I’ve just got to look (at) myself in the mirror, go back to the drawing board and be better.”
The Packers (2-2) had a long history of stability in their kicking game with Mason Crosby, a sixth-round draft pick in 2007 who held the position until 2022 and set the franchise scoring record.
Last year, Green Bay moved on from the aging Crosby by drafting Anders Carlson from Auburn in the sixth round. Carlson’s inconsistent rookie season ended with him missing a crucial 41-yard field goal in a playoff loss to San Francisco, leading the Packers to reopen the kicking competition.
Carlson competed with veteran Greg Joseph during training camp, but the team decided not to keep either of them. Instead, they claimed Narveson from the Titans after he went 6 of 7 on field-goal attempts, including a long of 59 yards, during the preseason.
So far, Narveson has made 69.2% of his field-goal attempts, with no tries from 50 yards or more, and he is just 3 of 6 from at least 40 yards away.
