Packers need to bring in competition for Anders Carlson
The Green Bay Packers have a pretty obvious decision to make after their first preseason game of the 2023 season: they need to bring in competition for rookie placekicker Anders Carlson. Per the team's website, the roster currently sits at 91 players with International Pathway Player, Kenneth Odumegwu, included, and they are going to have […]
The Green Bay Packers have a pretty obvious decision to make after their first preseason game of the 2023 season: they need to bring in competition for rookie placekicker Anders Carlson.
Per the team's website, the roster currently sits at 91 players with International Pathway Player, Kenneth Odumegwu, included, and they are going to have an open roster spot once they put on Tyler Davis on IR due to the torn ACL he suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Once that happens, the Packers can bring in anyone they want. That's willing to come, obviously.
It's easy to see the potential in Carlson due to his big leg, but the accuracy issues are the most consistent part of his game, right now. The missed PATs on Friday night are a whole new issue that's cropped up, as well. In an overall sense, his development isn't where it should be, right now.
The Packers seem content with riding the ups-and-downs that comes with a rookie kicker that had accuracy issues in college and if that's part of the plan – OK, sure. At least they have a vision for the kid.
But at the same time, bringing in competition would light a fire under Carlson, which helps both him and the team. And if he rises to the occasion -which there's no reason to think he can't – it's a win-win, ultimately.
The Packers still have four tight ends on the roster: rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, fourth-year Josiah Deguara, and Austin Allen. They do need to try and find someone who can replace Davis' special teams prowess. But for now, they are OK at tight end.
Adding another kicker is a better idea in both the short- and long-term. And the end result could be very beneficial to both parties.
Three winners after Packers’ victory over Bengals
These three Packers players really made a solid case for some jobs on Friday night.
Featured image via Seeger Gray/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
