An injury at kicker can be a tricky thing in the age of COVID-19. Adding a player, at any position, is a potentially long process for NFL teams.
The Green Bay Packers are currently dealing with a situation involving kicker Mason Crosby, who has two new injuries coming out of the team’s win in Houston last Sunday. The veteran kicker has a left calf injury and a back injury, according to the injury report, and he wasn’t available for Wednesday’s walk-through practice.
The Packers don’t have a backup kicker on the 53-man roster or the practice squad, so if Crosby can’t go this week, the team would need to make an outside addition and have the player ready by Sunday or just not have a traditional kicker against the Minnesota Vikings.
Crosby didn’t attempt a field goal but did kick five extra points and handle kickoff duties against the Texans. It’s unclear when the injuries happened.
The Packers also listed long snapper Hunter Bradley on Wednesday’s injury report with a groin injury. Like Crosby, he’s the only long snapper on the roster or practice squad, although his injury appears to be less significant, and teams often have position players who could snap in a pinch.
Crosby, who entered the league in 2007 and is now 36 years old, has never missed a game due to injury. He has connected on all nine of his field goals this season, including five over 40 yards.
The Packers have had several kickers in for tryouts and visits over the first seven weeks of the season, so GM Brian Gutekunst would likely have several options should he need to make a move this week.
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