GREEN BAY, Wis. — Maybe the seventh kicker would be the appeal for the Inexperienced Bay Packers, who signed veteran Brandon McManus on Tuesday.
The perimeters agreed to a one-year deal, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and McManus is predicted to kick in Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Houston Texans at Lambeau Area.
Whereas the Packers used just one kicker, Brayden Narveson, within the first six video games of this season, they’ve had six others on the roster because the finish of final season. One in all them, Alex Hale, stays on the follow squad.
Narveson, a rookie whom the Packers claimed off waivers from the Tennessee Titans in late August, has missed a league-high 5 area objective makes an attempt this season, together with a 44-yarder in Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Initially, the Packers saved Greg Joseph on the finish of the preseason over final yr’s kicker, Anders Carlson. In addition they had James Turner and Jack Podlesny on their 90-man offseason roster at completely different factors.
When requested Monday whether or not the workforce was contemplating a kicking change this week, Packers coach Matt LaFleur stated: “I would not say that proper now, no.” Nonetheless, he stated they’d “take it by day-to-day.” That was earlier than the workforce labored out McManus on Tuesday.
McManus, 33, spent final season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made 30 of 37 area objective makes an attempt and all 35 of his extra-point tries in his solely season with the workforce.
He signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Washington Commanders within the offseason however was launched in early June after two girls who have been working as flight attendants on the chartered airline the Jaguars used to fly to London in September 2023 filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault on the journey.
The NFL introduced Sept. 30 that it discovered inadequate proof that McManus violated the league’s private conduct coverage. League spokesman Brian McCarthy stated as a part of a press release that “as at all times, if new proof is offered it could be considered.”
Tony Buzbee, an legal professional representing the 2 girls, instructed ESPN on Sept. 30 that the league had not interviewed his shoppers as a part of its investigation. It wasn’t instantly recognized whether or not the perimeters had spoken since.
McManus is a profession 81.4% kicker on area objectives. He spent the primary 9 seasons of his profession with the Denver Broncos.
The Packers have been looking for a secure substitute since they moved on from their profession scoring chief, Mason Crosby, after the 2022 season. In his final season with the Packers, Crosby made 86.2% of his area objectives.
Final season, Carlson, a sixth-round choose in 2023, missed 13 complete kicks, together with area objectives and further factors within the common season and playoffs, probably the most of any kicker within the league.
A supply stated the Packers have been assembly with Narveson on Tuesday night, and it was not instantly clear whether or not the workforce would attempt to preserve two kickers on the roster.
Data from ESPN’s Michael DiRocco was used on this report.
