For the first two weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season, everything was coming up Green Bay Packers. That has not been the case ever since, with the team losing to the Cleveland Browns and then tying against the Dallas Cowboys.
Now, coming out of their bye week and a date with the Cincinnati Bengals on the horizon this weekend, the Packers are facing a must-win game. Well, a must-win game if they want to stay in the NFC North race early on, as the Detroit Lions are 4-1 and look like the class of the division again, as painful as that is to admit.
Unfortunately, injury luck does not appear to be on Green Bay's side. Kicker Brandon McManus could miss this weekend's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, potentially leaving the Packers up a creek without a paddle.
While speaking to the media, Matt LaFleur said that McManus' injury was "a major concern right now." Not something you want to hear about a key position (yes, kicker is a key position) three days before an important game.
Packers may be without their kicker in Week 6 vs. Bengals
So, this is just... great. The Packers might not have their kicker this week and, for those who remember the last time these two teams squared off in 2021, when neither team could make a kick to save their lives, it could feel like deja vu all over again.
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Packers fans remember life before McManus. Brayden Narverson kicked for the opening six games last season, missing six field goal attempts. The Packers don't want a repeat of that nightmare.
LaFleur did clarify that the injury was not from the tackle attempts he had against Dallas but from something that happened during practice. The Packers do have another kicker on the roster - Mark McNamee, who is currently stashed away on the practice squad.
McNamee is an Irish-born player who went 1-of-2 on field goals and 2-of-3 on extra-point attempts during the preseason. So, it could be worse? But it could also be much, much better.
Obviously, if McManus isn't healthy enough to kick, then he shouldn't suit up in this game. Hopefully, he'll heal up fast and be ready to kick against the Bengals on Sunday. Otherwise, get ready, McNamee, because your time to shine is coming!