Tag: JJ Molson

Packers release JJ Molson, setting up kicker competition between Mason Crosby and Domink Eberle

The Packers released kicker JJ Molson on Friday. The competition at kicker will come down to Mason Crosby and Dominik Eberle.

And then there were two. The Green Bay Packers trimmed down the competition at kicker on Friday by releasing JJ Molson. The move leaves Mason Crosby to compete with Dominik Eberle for the job over the summer.

Molson, 25, spent a few weeks to end the 2020 season and all of the 2021 season on the Packers’ practice squad.

The Packers signed Eberle after hiring Rich Bisaccia as the team’s special teams coordinator, making it less likely Molson would be the one getting the opportunity to compete with Crosby, who has been the Packers kicker since 2007.

With no need to roster three kickers, the Packers were bound to make a transaction before the start of the offseason workout program. Molson drew the short stick.

Crosby holds most of the team’s kicking records, but he made only 73.5 percent of his field goals and missed two extra points during the 2021 season. Eberle, a German native, spent part of the 2020 season with Bisaccia and the Raiders. He was an undrafted free agent out of Utah State.

Packers add rookie kicker to practice squad

The Packers signed undrafted free agent kicker JJ Molson, who kicked at UCLA for four seasons.

The Green Bay Packers added some protection on special teams by signing a rookie kicker to the practice squad.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced the signing of JJ Molson to the practice squad on Tuesday.

Molson, a rookie from UCLA, replaces center Anthony Fabiano, who was released from the practice squad.

Molson previously spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers this year. At UCLA, Molson made 51 of 74 field goals (68.9 percent) over four seasons. He hit a field goal of at least 45 yards during each of his four seasons but was just 1-of-6 on field goals of 50 or more yards. He also connected on 151 extra points, including 90 straight to finish his collegiate career. On 266 kickoffs, Molson created 145 touchbacks.

Adding Molson to the practice squad provides the Packers with valuable insurance should anything happen to veteran kicker Mason Crosby. The Packers had previously been working out kickers and punters each week to have an option ready to go should Crosby or punter JK Scott have an injury or go on the COVID-19 reserve list unexpectedly.