What's happened
The Green Bay Packers have released veteran kicker Brandon McManus after two seasons, with plans to test rookie Trey Smack and other options as replacements. McManus hit 82% of field goals over 12 years and faced two missed kicks in the playoff loss to Chicago; Havrisik remains on the roster as a potential replacement.
What's behind the headline?
Live update
- The Packers are moving toward a rookie replacement, with Torrey Havrisik also on the roster, indicating a preference for a fresher leg.
- This decision follows a playoff miss and a season evaluating a rookie Brayden Narveson replacement path.
- The move also aligns with a broader trend of teams rotating kickers to capitalize on potential upside from draft picks.
Forecast
- Green Bay should designate a starter for the regular season soon; competition will likely intensify in training camp and the preseason, with Havrisik and Smack as primary contenders.
How we got here
McManus has spent 12 NFL seasons with the Broncos, Jaguars and Packers. Green Bay drafted Tre Smack in the sixth round last month and traded two seventh-round picks to move up for him, signaling a shift toward younger specialists.
Our analysis
AP News reports on McManus’s release and the Packers’ draft choice of Trey Smack; ESPN initially reported the move. The context notes McManus’s 82% field-goal rate across 12 years and his playoff miss in Chicago.
Go deeper
- Will the Packers keep Havrisik as a fallback or pursue another veteran?
- How soon will Smack be prepared to handle NFL kicking duties?
- What other teams might look to add a veteran kicker after this move?
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