Insights into the Green Bay Packers’ Approach to Kickers and Punters

Green Bay Packers and Their Recent Waiver Claim

Brayden Narveson was claimed off waivers by Brian Gutekunst, the general manager of the Green Bay Packers. Drawing attention to his stance on kickers and punters, Gutekunst made a confession. “My patience with specialists may not be as considerable as it needs to be,” he revealed on August 28.

Narveson’s Struggles and Gutekunst’s Patience

Narveson is well aware that he’s testing Gutekunst’s patience. The novice kicker even speculated if his performance in the 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, where he missed two field goal attempts, might have exhausted Gutekunst’s patience. “Truthfully, in most places, you’re uncertain if you’ll return after such a game, or even get a chance to continue throughout the week,” Narveson reflected on Wednesday.

Narveson’s Determination to Prove Himself

Despite these doubts, Narveson remains committed to his role. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and I’ll prepare tirelessly all week. While many people might be discounting me, I aim to validate the faith of those who believed in me,” he stated.

Brayden Narveson: A Season of Missed Field Goal Attempts

Brayden Narveson’s four missed field goal attempts mark the highest misses this season. He’s missed shots from 43 yards against the Eagles, 45 yards in Week 2 against the Colts, and in the Vikings game, a 37-yard shot hit the right upright while a 49-yard shot went wide right. While he is officially 9-of-13, this doesn’t account for a missed shot in Week 3 at Tennessee, nullified by a Titans penalty.

Continued Faith in Narveson Despite Struggles

Despite these setbacks, Narveson maintains a positive outlook. “I’ve experienced the lowest point in a game. Now, I’ve adopted a carefree mentality. I’m prepared to go out there and make the kick. That’s my mindset this week,” he expressed.

Gutekunst’s Consideration of Other Options

Moreover, Gutekunst has been exploring other options. He had Chad Rylan and Lucas Havrisik in for workouts on Tuesday, but neither was signed. Rylan found a spot on the Cardinals’ practice squad on Wednesday. Gutekunst also has Alex Hale, a participant in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, on the practice squad. At this point, it seems unlikely the Packers will replace Narveson with Hale.

The Packers’ Kicker Situation

The Packers find themselves in this situation after parting ways with last year’s kicker, Anders Carlson. Carlson had a promising start, but his performance declined with missed kicks in 10 of his last games.

Recap of the Previous 12 Matches and the Future of Narveson

In the course of the most recent 12 games, Narveson demonstrated his skill with a noteworthy 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, despite the playoff defeat against the 49ers. At the end of the summer training camp, Gutekunst decided to part ways with Carlson, instead retaining experienced player Greg Joseph. However, when the opportunity arose to acquire Narveson off waivers, Gutekunst released Joseph who has since achieved a record of 5 successful goals out of 6 attempts with the Giants since Week 3.

Narveson’s Struggles and Self-Improvement

For Narveson, the silver lining is that all his missed shots have veered towards the right. He admitted that this usually occurs when his plant foot is too wide, causing him to aim excessively to the right. “It was quite evident to everyone. It’s not something I repeat during practice. I just need to be a bit more careful with my routine – my strides, the planning – so I can really focus on and rectify this issue, and then we should be all set,” Narveson expressed.

Coach Matt LaFleur’s Support for Narveson

Coach Matt LaFleur has publicly expressed his unwavering support for Narveson, primarily due to the impressive performance he has observed from his kicker during practice sessions. LaFleur acknowledged the need for Narveson to perform during matches, “I understand that the game is the ultimate test. We fully expect him to nail those kicks,” LaFleur remarked earlier this week. He emphasized the importance of Narveson maintaining a consistent routine and being able to self-correct. “If a kick is missed, it’s crucial not to repeat the same error,” he added.