3 winners (and 2 losers) from Packers Family Night practice
- Packers rookie kicker bounces back
- Defensive line stands out
- More concerns along offensive line
Winner: Anders Carlson
The biggest winner of the night was rookie kicker Anders Carlson. He deserves a ton of credit. Carlson battled through some tough practices all week, lacking consistency.
His power and ability to convert long-range field goals was never in doubt. Doing it consistently and limiting mistakes is the key to securing the job long-term.
The pressure was increased at Family Night, with a packed Lambeau Field crowd watching on. Carlson easily could've faltered in this scenario, especially after a challenging week of practice.
But he did the opposite. Carlson rose to the occasion. According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, the rookie kicker converted nine out of his 10 field goals. The one miss was due to a bad snap. All but one of his kickers were beyond 40 yards, and three of his conversions were over 50 yards.
That is exactly what the Packers needed to see from their rookie kicker. He still has a lot to prove, but to bounce back from a tough week of practice and deliver in front of the Lambeau Field crowd isn't easy. The situation wasn't too much for him.
Of course, it's still only practice. But this was Carlson's biggest test yet, and he delivered emphatically.