Former Packers Placekicker Makes NFL Comeback Set to Play This Sunday
One of the most controversial moves the Green Bay Packers made after the 2022 season was selecting kicker Anders Carlson from Auburn in the sixth round to take over for Mason Crosby, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. In his last season with the Packers, Crosby was highly dependable, hitting 86.2% of his field goals and 94.9% of his extra points.
Carlson joined the NFL after converting only 71.8% of his field goals, though he had an impressive 98.3% success rate on extra points—possibly a surprise for Packers fans. In his final college season, he managed just 70.6% on field goal attempts but successfully made all 22 of his extra points.
Former Green Bay Packers Kicker Anders Carlson Could Not Find Consistency as a Rookie
After facing accuracy issues during training camp, Carlson kicked off the 2023 season strong, successfully making every one of his attempts through Green Bay’s first five games.
From Week Six until the end of the regular season, Carlson converted only 76.9% of his field goals and 82.8% of his extra points, missing a total of 11 kicks (six field goals and five extra points)—the highest in the NFL.
His struggles carried over into the playoffs, where he missed a field goal against the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round and another against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round, a game the Packers lost 25-22.
In light of these issues, the Packers brought in veteran Greg Joseph to compete with Carlson for the starting position in 2024. Unfortunately, both kickers struggled with consistency during training camp and preseason games, leading to their release and the signing of Brayden Narveson.
Following this change, Joseph secured a spot on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad and was later signed by the New York Giants to replace their injured kicker, while Carlson remained without a contract.
Former Green Bay Packers Kicker Anders Carlson Will Play for the San Francisco 49ers This Week
In San Francisco, the 49ers have been navigating injuries among their kickers. Jake Moody is sidelined with a sprained ankle, and after he was injured, the team brought in Carlson for a workout, but he lost the spot to Matthew Wright.
Last week, Wright injured his shoulder while tackling an opponent on a kickoff, leaving his status uncertain. In response, the 49ers quickly signed Carlson to their practice squad.
On Saturday, the team announced that Carlson would be their third kicker in the past three games as they prepare for a tough matchup against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Notably, when the Packers faced the Chiefs at Lambeau Field last November, Carlson had a strong performance, successfully making all three extra point attempts and two field goals.
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