After a rough start to Green Bay Packers training camp, rookie kicker Anders Carlson increased his stock and his standing among fans after a brilliant performance at Family Night. Early struggles, including a one-for-six day last Saturday, had many wondering if the return of Mason Crosby to Green Bay might be imminent.
Going into Family Night, both head coach Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst said that the upcoming week would be a huge test for Carlson. Family Night, of course, would be his first time kicking in front of tens of thousands of fans since he was drafted. This upcoming week, the Packers have joint practices and a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Green Bay Packers Kicker Anders Carlson Puts Mason Crosby Talks on Hold After Family Night Performance
When the lights of Lambeau Field came on, none shined brighter than Carlson’s right leg. He went eight-for-nine on the night, and his only miss was the result of a terrible snap and hold.
Throughout the course of the night, Carlson made field goal attempts from the following distances:
- 40 yards
- 44 yards
- 49 yeards
- 43 yards
- 45 yards
- 51 yards
- 53 yards
His lone miss, due to the botched snap and hold, was from 50 yards out.
As Zach Jacobson of heavy.com pointed out on Twitter, these kinds of ups are to be expected with the downs that come with rookie kickers:
Anders Carlson is having a great night. This is just the kind of rollercoaster it’s going to be with a rookie kicker — on one day, off the next. All of those reports about his leg strength, though, are absolutely correct.
— zach jacobson (@itszacharyj) August 6, 2023
As Crosby struggled with inconsistency at times in his career, so too will Carlson as a rookie kicker. That being said, his training camp was off to an awful start. This showing proved he belongs, though, and is making a good case for being the kicker come Week One.
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