Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged that the competition at kicker and backup quarterback has been inconsistent this summer and said the decisions made by the league on Tuesday’s roster cuts could impact what the team does at those two positions at the start of the 2024 season.
Saturday’s preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens — which ended in a 30-7 victory at Lambeau Field — highlighted the ongoing instability and potential concerns surrounding the kicker and backup quarterback position heading into the regular season.
At kicker, Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph started by attempting the first six kicks — two of them more than 50 yards — but Carlson ended the day with a missed 32-yard field goal. Both kickers had impressive stretches, but their completion rate hovered around 80 percent during training camp.
LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst will have to decide whether Carlson or Joseph are the right choices for Week 1, or if a fresh starter from the reserve roster will be necessary.
“We got a really good sample size, and then we’ll see what happens across the league,” LaFleur said. “There were some good moments. Both of those guys made 50-yard plays, and then there was a bad moment when we missed a chip shot. A lot of good moments, but there were some where we could have been better. We’ll wait and see.”
Carlson threw a 54-yarder around the right post, while Joseph clipped the uprights from 55. By the final tally of kicks in camp and the preseason, Carlson was a slightly better kicker. But he was no more consistent or reliable than he was in his volatile rookie season, and his miss Saturday was a brutal reminder of Carlson’s volatility, even on easier kicks.
Backup quarterback Sean Clifford and rookie Michael Pratt both threw touchdown passes, but Clifford struggled early and Pratt struggled slow.
Do the Packers have a backup quarterback who could replace Jordan Love if he suffers a minor injury?
“We’ll see,” LaFleur said. “Again, like the kicking contest, there were some really good moments and some things we definitely need to improve on. And we’ll evaluate everything that’s available to us.”
Together, Clifford and Pratt completed 14 of 26 passes for 133 yards, two touchdowns and an interception against the Ravens. Clifford was just 3 of 10 at halftime, while Pratt threw a faint interception in the second half. Neither was particularly impressive during a month of practice and three preseason games, opening the door for the Packers to fill the quarterback position after final cuts.
Most teams enter the season with bigger and more pressing concerns than the Packers currently face at backup quarterback and kicker. But quarterback is the most critical position on the field, and quarterbacks often get injured, while kicker is a scoring position that can decide games.
The deadline to cut the roster to 53 players is Tuesday afternoon. Given LaFleur’s comments, all options are on the table at kicker and backup point guard, and it’s possible answers will come via the waiver wire.
Other things of note from LaFleur:
— LaFleur said Pratt lost his breath as he tried to make a tackle after the interception. “He couldn’t breathe. He just lost his breath, he was fine.”
— LaFleur said players will have Sunday, Monday and Tuesday off and return Wednesday. Final cuts Tuesday.
— On the status of AJ Dillon (hamstring injury) and MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring injury) for Week 1: “To be determined.”
— On Kristian Welch: “Smart, tough, physical.” LaFleur credited him with goading the quarterback into throwing an interception in the second half.
— On Arron Mosby: “It was very impressive that he had two interceptions.” Mosby forced a fumble and had an interception. “Two outstanding plays by him.”
— On the final 53-man squad: “There will be some really tough decisions to be made.”
— LaFleur said Jason Vrable was calling plays in the first half, and John Dunn was calling plays in the second half. The Packers also changed that, calling plays on defense.
— At right guard: “Sean Rhyan did a great job.” He said the Packers have at least five practices before the Eagles game, so there’s time to make a decision. LaFleur didn’t rule out rotating Rhyan and Jordan Morgan. He also said Rhyan’s durability in the paint is better this year.
— No break in communication on the Ravens touchdown. Two players jumped on the under route, leaving an open path for a break-in behind it.
LaFleur’s post-game press conference:
LIVE: Head Coach Matt LaFleur Meets with Media After #BALvsGB 🎙️ https://t.co/LhMADYrQ21
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 24, 2024
