The Green Bay Packers are facing uncertainty at the kicker position heading into the 2024 season, with a competition brewing between incumbent Anders Carlson, journeyman Greg Joseph, and underdog Jack Podlesny. Carlson had a disappointing rookie season in 2023, being the least reliable kicker in the league and missing key kicks in the playoffs. General manager Brian Gutekunst acknowledged the need for competition at the position and signed Joseph and Podlesny in the offseason to push Carlson.
Joseph, a 29-year-old with experience on multiple NFL teams, has a solid track record of field goal accuracy but has struggled with longer-distance kicks. Podlesny, a former Georgia standout, has a strong college resume but went undrafted in 2023 and did not see action last season. The competition between the three kickers is heating up in offseason workouts, with special teams coach Rich Bisaccia rotating reps to evaluate their performances.
The battle for the Packers’ kicking job is likely to extend into training camp, with Bisaccia emphasizing the need to find the best player for the role. The team’s decision on which kicker to go with is still up in the air, with the possibility of other players entering the mix before the season starts. The competition among Carlson, Joseph, and Podlesny is being closely monitored and documented, with their progress and performance being analyzed on film and through daily practice.
As the Packers continue to search for a solution at kicker, the competition is intensifying, with each player striving to prove themselves worthy of the job. Carlson’s shaky performance in 2023 has opened the door for Joseph and Podlesny to challenge for the role, adding intrigue and drama to the team’s offseason activities. The battle for the kicker position is expected to last through the summer, with the Packers hoping to find a reliable option to handle their kicking duties in the upcoming season.
