Rookie kicker Alex Hale showed enough during his two weeks in Green Bay to earn what should be a guaranteed roster spot with the Packers during the 2024 season.
The Packers designated Hale as the team’s International Player Pathway program player and released defensive end Kenneth Odumegwu on Wednesday.
By designating Hale, the Packers can — at least in theory — keep the Australian born kicker on the practice squad all season without taking up a roster spot, giving general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur the potential of a 17-player practice squad.
Hale, an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State, is competing with Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph to be the team’s kicker. It’s possible Hale could end up being the backup plan at kicker regardless of whether the Packers pick Carlson, Joseph or a kicker currently on another NFL roster.
Hale was a two-time Lou Groza Award semi-finalist and one-time All-Big 12 pick at Oklahoma State. He made 43 of 54 field goal attempts, good for a 79.6 percentage. Between 2021 and 2023, Hale made 47 consecutive extra points.
Over two weeks of practices, Hale converted 14 of 20 field goal attempts, or 70 percent.
Odumegwu, a Nigerian born defensive end, joined the Packers through the International Player Pathway program in May of 2023. He spent the entire 2023 season on the practice squad and was retained on a futures deal in January.