The Green Bay Packers may have just started training camp, but there are several position battles that have been going on since their offseason programs began. For example, there are multiple offensive line positions open this year. David Bakhtiari was released and Jon Runyan Jr. and Yosh Nijman departed in free agency. The Packers brought in free agent Andre Dillard and drafted three more offensive linemen to compete for starting jobs.
The cornerback position, too, is an interesting one to watch going forward. Former first round pick Eric Stokes is finally fully healthy but is not being guaranteed a starting job. After Green Bay declined his fifth-year option, Stokes is competing with several players, namely 2023 seventh-round draft pick Carrington Valentine, for the second starting spot opposite Jaire Alexander.
The Green Bay Packers Brought in Competition for Kicker Anders Carlson
![Green Bay Packers: Anders Carlson Gets Major Boost in Job Security on Day 2 of Training Camp 1 Green Bay Packers, Anders Carlson](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22342579_168400517_lowres-1-e1716127048349.jpg)
One position battle that everyone saw coming was the competition for the starting kicker job. Last year, the Packers decided to replace franchise all-time leading scorer Mason Crosby with sixth-round pick Anders Carlson.
Carlson did not perform up to expectations, making 81.8% of his field goal attempts and just 87.2% of his extra point attempts. While his field goal percentage last season was higher than Crosby’s career mark, he missed a kick in more than half of the games he played, including in the NFL Playoffs.
While Green Bay has not given up on their young kicker, they also want to put the team in the best position to win. The fact of the matter is that Carlson’s missed kicks cost the Packers multiple wins. While no one mistake is the reason a team loses, there were a handful of games decided by three or less points that Green Bay could have won had Carlson made his kicks.
As a result, the Packers brought in veteran kicker Greg Joseph to compete with Carlson for the starting job.
Green Bay Packers Kicker Anders Carlson Has an Early Lead for the Starting Job
![Green Bay Packers: Anders Carlson Gets Major Boost in Job Security on Day 2 of Training Camp 2 Green Bay Packers, Anders Carlson](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USATSI_22035299_168400517_lowres-e1721046928230.jpg)
While training camp has just started and it is too early to name either kicker as the starter, it sure sounds like Carlson has a leg up (pun intended).
According to Ryan Wood of USA Today, Carlson made all three of his kicks during a rainy practice on Tuesday. Joseph only made one:
Kicking with a wet football, perfect start to camp for Anders Carlson:
XP good
38L good
44R goodNot so much for Greg Joseph:
XP good
39L wide right
44R wide right— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 23, 2024
As stated, it is too early to declare Carlson the winner of the competition. However, he has an incredibly strong leg and, if he has truly figured out what was causing his accuracy issues, could end up being the Packers placekicker for a very long time.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!