After another failed attempt by Brayden Narveson, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the team is still not ready for change.
Asked Monday if the Packers were considering changing their kicker after six weeks, LaFleur replied: “I wouldn’t say that right now, no.”
Rookie Narveson missed his fifth NFL field goal during Sunday’s 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. His 44-yard shot went wide of the goal to the right side. Moments later, Narveson hit a 41-yard field goal and made 2 of 3 field goals and 4 of 4 extra points.
Heading into Monday’s game, Narveson ranks 33rd out of 33 qualifying players in field goal percentage at 70.6. Greg Joseph, whom the Packers released to add Narveson after final cuts, ranks 32nd at 72.7%.
The longings add up. Narveson missed four kicks from 40 to 49 yards, the highest mark in the NFL, and is one of just three players to miss from 30 to 39 yards this season (2024 kick rate 98 out of 101 on kicks from 30 to 39 yards).
The Packers have rookie Alex Hale on the practice squad, who serves as the team’s International Player Pathway player, and LaFleur said Hale will “potentially” be ready to kick if needed.
The Packers preached patience at kicker. LaFleur continually praises Narveson’s work in hands-on environments, and the team believes in Narveson’s combination of talent and attitude. However, patience can quickly wear lean, especially when the margins are so slim at the NFL level.
Where is the tipping point?
“We’ll see, we’ll take it one day at a time again,” LaFleur said.
The Packers will host the AFC South top-ranked Houston Texans on Sunday at Lambeau Field. LaFleur’s team cannot afford to throw away points in critical matches with their rivals.
Narveson missed at least one field goal in four of six games, and his Tennessee miss was canceled out by a field goal. In the Week 4 game against the Vikings, Narveson missed two field goals in the first half and the Packers trailed 28-0. He also missed a field goal in Brazil in Week 1 and in the Week 2 home opener against the Colts.
