The Green Bay Packers will have a new kicker in 2024.
The club cut Anders Carlson on Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source informed of the situation.
The Packers drafted Carlson in the sixth round in 2023. The booter struggled with consistency as a rookie, making 27 of 33 field goal attempts. Carlson was perfect inside 40 yards (20-20) but missed 4 of 8 attempts between 40-49 yards and went 3 of 5 from 50-plus yards, with a long of 53 yards.
He went 34 of 39 on point-after tries. The 87.2% on PATs was the worst among 25 qualifying kickers last season, per Pro Football Reference.
Despite the struggles, coach Matt LaFleur continually backed the rookie last season and into the playoffs. Carlson went 2 of 3 on FGs (both makes inside 30 yards) and 7 of 8 on PATs in two postseason games.
This offseason, however, Green Bay imported competition for the young kicker in the form of veteran Greg Joseph, who spent the past three seasons with Minnesota.
Carlson seemed to respond well to the competition, making his first three field goal attempts of the preseason, including a 54-yarder. However, in the fourth quarter of the final preseason game, he pushed a 32-yard attempt wide right, reminding of many of his rookie misses. The botch seemed to have sealed Carlson's fate.
The Packers, instead, will lean on a veteran in 2024.
Carlson need only look to his brother for inspiration after the release. Daniel Carlson was cut two games into his rookie season in Minnesota after a barrage of misses. However, the elder Carlson bounced back with the Raiders in short order, eventually earning All-Pro honors.
