Dating back to last season, the Green Bay Packers have missed a field goal in seven consecutive games and 12 of the last 14 games overall, including the postseason.
Through two games, rookie Brayden Narveson has picked up right where Anders Carlson left off. In back-to-back games since arriving in Green Bay, Narveson has missed a kick between 40 and 50 yards– including a 45-yarder in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Narveson, an undrafted rookie out of North Carolina State, is one of only seven kickers to be under 80 percent on field goals and one of only three kickers to miss multiple field goal attempts through the first two weeks. He’s made six field goals, which ranks sixth overall, but the misses — and the lost points — are often as important for kickers as the makes.
Coach Matt LaFleur admitted the decision is mostly out of his hands, but he said he’s wants to be patient with Narveson.
“I’d say from, my perspective, pretty patient,” LaFleur said Monday. “I like his mentality, I like his talent. There’s going to be some ups and downs. Hopefully, there’s more ups than downs. I do think he’s done a pretty nice job. He needs to make that field goal, he knows, we all know it, but I’m confident if he’s in that situation again, he’ll hit it.”
Narveson hit his first three field goals in Week 1 in Brazil but then missed a 43-yarder in the second half. The same script played out Sunday, with Narveson hitting from 46 yards, 42 yards and 34 yards before pushing a 45-yarder wide right after an 11-play drive with 4:10 to go.
Carlson, who lost the kicking battle this summer, got a full season and a full second offseason in Green Bay before the Packers made a change. Barring a major collapse, Narveson should get the same leash in Green Bay. The big concern? The Packers fancy themselves as Super Bowl contenders in 2024, and with razor thin margins among the top teams, Green Bay can’t afford shaky place kicking. It killed them in San Francisco in January. Narveson must steady as he gains experience in Year 1.