Trey Smack is the only kicker on the Green Bay Packers' roster. That might be a problem.
Entering training camp, it appeared as though the Packers planned to hold a legitimate kicking competition between Smack and Lucas Havrisik. Smack may have held an edge, but Havrisik would at least have an opportunity to make his case.
Then the Packers surprisingly waived Havrisik to bring in Lenny Krieg, who impressed in a tryout but has no NFL experience. But Krieg isn't on the roster anymore, either, as Green Bay needed to make room for a second long snapper due to Matt Orzech's injury.
Perhaps the plan is to bring back Krieg once a roster spot opens up, but that may not be enough.
Smack got his first real opportunity to kick at training camp on Sunday, and it followed a concerning pattern from the offseason program.
Trey Smack's struggles have officially continued into training camp
According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, Smack made only three of his five field goals during Sunday's practice. He converted from 28, 33, and 42 yards, but missed from 38 and 45. Demovsky did note that there was a low snap on the missed 38-yarder, while Smack also had to deal with a "decent wind."
But it follows a concerning trend. Smack was worryingly inconsistent during OTAs and minicamp, where crosswinds also impacted his accuracy.
The Packers want to have patience with their young kicker, and that's fine. They traded away both of their seventh-round picks to get him, after all. It can take time for rookies at any position. Kicker is no different.
Green Bay isn't a rebuilding team, though. It's in win-now mode.
The team's loyalty to Anders Carlson burned them in a playoff game. They then turned to Brayden Narveson before Brandon McManus provided the veteran stability they needed (for one season, at least).
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Smack may turn it around, but the Packers at least need a Plan B. The strategy can't just be to hope the rookie figures it out.
Difficult, windy conditions won't be a one-off. That's the expectation at Lambeau Field in the fall. It will only get progressively more challenging as temperatures drop and the pressure of a playoff push cranks up.
Packers need to consider bringing back Lucas Havrisik as a Plan B
Havrisik cleared waivers and remains a free agent. The Packers should give him a call and tell him it's an open competition with Smack. If he outperforms the rookie, he'll win the job.
Green Bay may plan to bring back Krieg, who is also eligible for the Packers' international pathway spot. But is that enough? The team could use their international exemption on Krieg, which means he wouldn't count against the 90-man roster, but it would still make sense to add a veteran.
Havrisik impressed when the Packers needed him last season. He made all four of his field goals and only missed two of nine extra-point tries, both against the New York Giants. He also broke Mason Crosby's franchise record for the longest field goal after converting from 61 yards.
Plan B isn't guaranteed to work. Havrisik did miss 25 percent of his field goals for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023.
But creating a real competition isn't a bad idea. Make Smack win the job.
The Packers made a similar mistake with Carlson in 2023. They barely provided competition at kicker in the summer, effectively guaranteeing him the job. We all remember how that ended.
That Green Bay team was supposed to be rebuilding, though. The perception was that they had time for a young kicker to develop. Not now. Not for a team that traded two first-round picks for Micah Parsons and has Super Bowl aspirations.
The Packers should leave no stone unturned in their search for a consistent kicker. Smack may be the long-term solution, but after a rocky few months, the team can't be as all-in on their rookie kicker as they'd like to be.
It's time to add competition. Real competition.
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