Packers' announcement brings embarrassing kicker carousel to a close 2 Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers place kicker Brandon McManus (17) kicks a game tying field goal in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Packers’ announcement brings embarrassing kicker carousel to a close

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By John Sbisa | Last updated Nov 26, 2025 2:39 PM ET

46 days after signing Lucas Havrisik off the street, the Green Bay Packers have released the emergency kicker in a series of roster moves ahead of Thursday’s game in Detroit. In three games spaced across seven weeks, Havrisik made all four of his field goal tries, including a franchise-record 61-yarder against Arizona. After missing a pair of extra points in New York and McManus’ return on Sunday, his time with the team has come to a close. Packers fans might not have full trust restored in McManus, but at least they won’t have to guess who their kicker will be on a weekly basis.

For the first time in weeks, there will be no uncertainty on Packers’ kicking situation for Thursday

Apparently, McManus’ quad injury is sufficiently healed that the Packers do not feel the need to keep Havrisik around as insurance. If nothing else, going 3-3 on field goals against the Vikings proved that McManus is, hopefully, back to being capable at least from close range (none of those kicks was longer than 40 yards).

On the season, McManus is just 14-20 after making 20 of 21 last season.

The quad injury has obviously hindered him. That pitiful kick to try and tie the Eagles as time expired made that perfectly clear. With a healthy Havrisik’s 61-yard make earlier in the year, why the Packers had McManus attempt a 64-yard field goal on a bad leg is beyond comprehension.

The very next week, the team ruled him out against the Giants and plugged in Havrisik in his place. That’s arguably how the latter lost his job. The wind swirling inside MetLife Stadium that day, but still, there’s no excuse for botching two extra points in a one-score game. The Packers are fortunate those misses didn’t cost them.

So much for Havrisik’s 10-10 start and 60-plus yard range.

Packers' kicker concerns nearing crisis after 2 missed XPs vs Giants 2 Oct 12, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Lucas Havrisik (35) celebrates a field goal during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images

Trusting McManus isn’t a comfortable feeling, but after the debacle in New York, the team wasn’t about to go back to Havrisik if the former was capable of lacing up a kicking shoe. Hopefully the Packers make it easy on McManus against the Lions, lining up for chip shots or foregoing field goals altogether by punching it into the end zone.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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