The Green Bay Packers are not the only team that has dealt with issues at the kicker position this season. Fortunately, Green Bay was able to stabilize the position by signing free agent kicker Brandon McManus, who has made 94.4% of his field goal attempts this year and 100% of his extra point tries. It did, however, take them a while to find success with kicking.
As fans remember all too well, the Packers replaced franchise all-time leading scorer Mason Crosby with Anders Carlson, whom they drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Carlson was as inconsistent as they come, led the NFL in missed kicks, and was one of the reasons Green Bay lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Playoffs.
Unwilling to just hand him the starting job again in 2024, the Packers brought in veteran kicker Greg Joseph to compete for the role. However, both Carlson and Joseph struggled in training camp and in the preseason. Carlson was released when initial 53-man roster was announced, and Joseph was released a day later when Green Bay was awarded Brayden Narveson off of waivers.
Former Green Bay Packers Kicker Greg Joseph Bounced Around the NFL in 2024
After being released by the Packers, both Carlson and Joseph competed for a spot on the Detroit Lions practice squad. Joseph won the competition while Carlson had to go find work elsewhere (eventually landing with the 49ers).
Joseph was not in Detroit long, though, as the New York Giants signed him to fill in for Graham Gano, who went on injured reserve. In six games with the Giants, Joseph made 81.3% of his kicks (13/16) and 100% of his extra points. However, when Gano was finally healthy, the former Packers kicker was released.
The Washington Commanders signed him to their active roster as their starting kicker, Austin Siebert, was on injured reserve with a groin injury, and the kickers they brought in to replace him did not perform well.
In one game with the Commanders, Joseph made two of his three field goal attempts and both of his extra point tries.
And then he was released again.
Greg Joseph Is Set to Make New York Jets Franchise History
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
After being released by the 49ers, Carlson signed with the Jets practice squad. He was promoted to their active roster when their starting kicker, Greg Zuerlein, was placed on injured reserve.
In five games with the Jets, Carlson made 80% of his field goals, but only 81.8% of his extra points. In New York’s 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, he missed both a field goal and extra point attempt.
The following week, the Jets activated Zuerlein from injured reserve and signed Joseph to their practice squad. They kept Carlson on the active roster, but said that Zuerlein would be their kicker in Week 17.
But the Jets did not attempt any extra points or field goals in their humiliating defeat against the Buffalo Bills. They decided that Zuerlein was going to go back on injured reserve and that Carlson was to be released.
In a corresponding move, the signed Joseph to their active roster. When he takes the field as their kicker on Sunday in Week 18, the final game of the season, he will be the fifth kicker that they have used this year, a franchise record.
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