Rookie Alex Hale showed enough in his two weeks in Green Bay to earn a spot on the Packers roster for the 2024 season.
On Wednesday, the Packers designated Hale as an International Player Pathway player and released defensive quarterback Kenneth Odumegwu.
By drafting Hale, the Packers could — at least theoretically — keep the Australian-born kicker on the practice squad all season long without taking up a roster spot, giving general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur the potential of a 17-man practice squad.
Hale, an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State, is competing with Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph for the team’s kicker position. It’s possible Hale ends up being the backup kicker plan, whether the Packers choose Carlson, Joseph or a kicker currently on another NFL roster.
Hale was a two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist and a one-time All-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma State. He shot 43 of 54 from the field for 79.6 percent. Hale scored 47 consecutive extra points from 2021-23.
In two weeks of practice, Hale has converted 14 of 20 field goal attempts, a 70 percent success rate.
Odumegwu, a Nigerian-born defensive quarterback, joined the Packers under the International Player Pathway program in May 2023. He spent the entire 2023 season on the practice squad and was retained in January under a futures contract agreement.
