The Green Bay Packers' special teams have already hit nightmarish levels this season, and they may need to avoid fourth down entirely to prevent a disaster on Sunday.
Kicker Brandon McManus suffered an injury at practice that Matt LaFleur called a "major concern." Now we know why. McManus is officially out of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Packers will instead roll with the inexperienced Lucas Havrisik, whom they signed just days before the game. He has converted only 34 of 42 career kicks, including a concerning percentage of 33.3 percent on field goals of at least 40 yards. Green Bay may need to just go for it at every opportunity.
Packers' kicking woes close the gap to Bengals and raise upset alarm bells
The Packers should win this game comfortably. It's a lopsided matchup, especially with the Bengals turning to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on five days' notice. But we thought the same, ironically, against Flacco and the Cleveland Browns three weeks ago.
Can Green Bay trust Havrisik to convert, especially in a high-pressure moment?
Beyond just his inconsistent career record, Havrisik has had precious little time to nail the rhythm of kicking alongside holder Daniel Whelan and long snapper Matt Orzech. That's before we even mention the horrendous blocking, which has seen two Packers kicks get blocked in consecutive games.
It's a risk to trust Havrisik and his shaky field-goal record. It opens the door for leaving promising drives with zero points, whereas McManus was so automatic. If LaFleur gambles and goes for it on fourth downs, the Packers will run a similar risk of leaving empty-handed.
Take out the layup, easy three-point moments, and what should be a lopsided affair may become a much tighter contest.
The good news is that Jordan Love may not have to run for his life. Offensive linemen Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, and Zach Tom are all active.
Hopefully, it won't become a matchup hinging on the kicking game. But if the Packers can't rely on Havrisik, it could spell trouble even in a game they're heavily favored to win.