Packers throw curveball at kicking competition with latest move

Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph have gone head-to-head for the Green Bay Packers' kicking job this offseason.

Packer Report's Andy Herman has tracked each kick at practice this summer. They have both attempted 48 kicks, with Joseph converting 41 compared to Carlson's 38. It's a close battle, but it seems the Packers still aren't satisfied.

They rolled with three kickers at the start of training camp, but it had seemingly become a two-way race after they released James Turner at the end of July.

Think again. On Wednesday, the Packers brought in Alex Hale, and the rookie made a good start.

Can new signing Alex Hale compete for Packers kicking job?

Per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Hale converted five of six attempts during his first Packers practice. He hit two extra points and three field goals between 40 and 44 yards but missed his final attempt from 45.

It will take incredible consistency at each practice for Hale to seriously threaten Carlson and Joseph for the job, but the Packers signed him for a reason.

The two veteran kickers have had good summers, but there is still too much inconsistency. Carlson missed three kicks during a practice last week, while both struggled in windy conditions on Tuesday.

It's unusual to carry three kickers on the roster this late into the summer, but it shows the Packers are taking the competition seriously. Neither Carlson nor Joseph has pulled ahead. Hale might be a long shot to make the roster, but he has an opportunity.

Who is Packers' new kicker Alex Hale?

Born in New South Wales, Australia, Hale spent the past four seasons kicking for Oklahoma State. He made 43 of 54 field goals (79.6 percent) and 71 of 74 extra-point tries (95.9).

Back home in Australia, he used to surf and participate in a watersport called wakeskating. According to his Oklahoma State bio, he was a Junior Wakestate World Champion.

"I stopped wakeskating and wanted to go to college," Hale told The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. "I wanted to pursue a sport at the same time, so I began looking at kicking, and I started from scratch."

Hale swapped the water for the gridiron and now has the opportunity to land a spot on an NFL team. According to Schneidman, his first NFL tryout was with the Packers, who signed him immediately. Hale had a good college career. He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist twice and was named to the All-Big 12 second team last season.

It's an incredible story. Can Hale win the job ahead of Carlson and Joseph? He made a good start at his first practice, applying pressure to the veteran kickers.

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