For the first time in over 15 years the Packers will a new kicker kicking field goals and extra points.
After the team decided not to re-sign veteran Mason Crosby, the Packers drafted Anders Carlson in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Carlson will most likely be the Packers kicker come starting day with no other kickers on the roster.
Here is what you need to know about the newest kicker on the Packers roster.
College career
Carson played his college football at Auburn from 2017-2022 and redshirted his first year.
During his time at Auburn he made 79 out of 110 field goals with his longest field goal coming in his first year as a kicker, a 53 yard field goal.
He also missed only 3 extra points while he was at Auburn.
What Carlson can bring to the Packers?
What Carlson can bring to the Packers is that he has faced adversity before.
In November 2021 he suffered a torn ACL in a game versus Mississippi State, which caused him to miss out on the rest of the 2021 season.
He has also had to battled through a separated shoulder last year.
Through the ’21 and ’22 seasons, Carlson struggled, kicking with a knee brace on his non-kicking leg, he was a combined 26-of-38, including 0-of-4 from 50-plus.
Carlson has shown that he has grit and toughness through those injuries and is able to overcome adversity.
Packers Special Teams coach Rich Bisaccia also knows Anders pretty well.
Before coming to the Packers as a Special Teams Coach Bisaccia was the Special Teams coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders, where he coached Carslon’s older brother Daniel.
The younger Carlson met Bisaccia, at a Raiders mini-camp while visiting his older brother and the two have since then kept in touch.
After the draft General Manager Brian Gutekunst said “With kickers, Rich has a long track record and a very successful one, and I felt really good about how he felt about him.”
Carlson also has experience making big time kicks while he was with Auburn, who plays in the national spotlight often. That experience can help Carlson as he starts with the Packers.
The Packers though haven’t shut the door completely on Crosby yet. They could still sign him in the middle of the season if Carlson under performs.
It will be a different feel once the 2023 season rolls around without Crosby kicking extra points and field goals. But it seem like the Packers have a lot of faith and trust in Carlson.
The true test though for Carlson, will come once the season begins.
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Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.
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