Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph have been in a tight battle for the Green Bay Packers’ kicking job this offseason.
According to Andy Herman of Packer Report, both kickers have attempted 48 kicks in practice, with Joseph converting 41 and Carlson making 38. While it’s been a close competition, it appears the Packers aren’t entirely satisfied with either kicker just yet.
Initially, the Packers started training camp with three kickers but seemed to narrow it down to Carlson and Joseph after releasing James Turner at the end of July.
However, the competition took a new twist on Wednesday when the Packers brought in rookie kicker Alex Hale, who made an impressive debut.
Can New Signing Alex Hale Compete for the Packers’ Kicking Job?
As reported by Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Hale converted five of six attempts during his first practice with the Packers. He nailed two extra points and three field goals ranging from 40 to 44 yards but missed his final attempt from 45 yards.
Hale will need to demonstrate exceptional consistency in practice to seriously challenge Carlson and Joseph for the starting job, but the fact that the Packers signed him shows they see potential.
Despite solid performances over the summer, both veteran kickers have shown inconsistency. Carlson missed three kicks during a practice last week, and both struggled in windy conditions on Tuesday.
Carrying three kickers this late into the preseason is unusual, but it underscores the seriousness of the competition. While Hale might be a long shot to make the roster, he’s been given an opportunity to prove himself.
Who Is Packers’ New Kicker Alex Hale?
Born in New South Wales, Australia, Hale spent the last four seasons kicking for Oklahoma State. During his college career, he made 43 of 54 field goals (79.6 percent) and converted 71 of 74 extra-point attempts (95.9 percent).
Before transitioning to football, Hale was a Junior Wakestate World Champion in wakeskating and also enjoyed surfing. “I stopped wakeskating and wanted to go to college,” Hale told The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. “I wanted to pursue a sport at the same time, so I began looking at kicking, and I started from scratch.”
Hale’s first NFL tryout was with the Packers, who signed him on the spot. He had a strong college career, being a two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist and earning a spot on the All-Big 12 second team last season.
Hale’s journey from the water to the gridiron is remarkable, and his initial performance in practice suggests he could push Carlson and Joseph for the kicking job. Whether he can ultimately win the spot remains to be seen, but he’s off to a promising start.
