The Green Bay Packers are looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season now that their run in the NFL Playoffs, once again, was cut short in the Wild Card round. Unlike last season’s debacle against the Philadelphia Eagles, who dominated the game from start to finish, Green Bay, at one point, held a 21-6 lead over the Chicago Bears and looked to have the game in hand.
However, the Bears outscored the Packers 25-6 in the fourth quarter and pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory, winning the game 31-27.
And while there were many reasons for Green Bay’s epic and humiliating collapse, the fact that Brandon McManus missed three kicks in the game, leaving seven points out on the field, cannot and is not being overlooked by fans or the organization.
The Green Bay Packers bring back Lucas Havrisik after Brandon McManus struggled against the Chicago Bears
Last year, his first with the Packers, McManus had a 95.2% field goal percentage and made 100% of his extra points. His field goal percentage for 2024 was the second-best in franchise history, and led Green Bay to give him a three-year contract this past offseason.
But 2025 saw the former Super Bowl champion struggle. Admittedly, he was battling leg injuries and the Packers sent him out into some games he probably should not have been playing in. That being said, he did miss a few games as Green Bay brought in Lucas Havrisik, who had accepted a job as a substitute teacher, to fill for him.
During McManus’ absence, Havrisik set the franchise record for longest field goal, with a 61-yard bomb. This led many fans to call on the Packers to replace McManus with Havrisik long-term, but the veteran was given his job back when the team deemed him healthy enough to play.
But McManus’ struggles in Chicago during the Wild Card game appear to have made the organization question his ability, and they decided to bring Havrisik back once again on a reserve/futures contract:
Packers reserve/future signings:
K Lucas Havrisik
OT Brant Banks
DL Dante Barnett
OG Karsen Barnhart
DL Anthony Campbell
TE McCallan Castles
OT Dalton Cooper
TE Drake Dabney
DL James Ester
CB Tyron Herring
LB Jamon Johnson
RB Damien Martinez
S Mark Perry
WR Will Sheppard
RB…— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) January 12, 2026
Being signed a reserve/futures contract does not guarantee Havrisik a spot on the 2026 53-man roster, but it does mean that he will be on the 90-man roster for training camp and be given the opportunity to out-duel McManus for the starting job next year.
For a brief moment in 2024, it seemed as if Green Bay had finally found the answer to their woes at the kicker position. Now, once again, it will be a job to watch during the offseason.
More Green Bay Packers news from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
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- 4 Packers players under contract that may be cut prior to 2026 NFL season
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