The Green Bay Packers are in a predicament with their kicking situation. Placekicker Brett McManus is doubtful to play after he strained his quad muscle in practice on Oct. 8. While McManus reported feeling “pretty much back to normal” earlier this week, his status remains unclear as the team prepares for their next matchup.
McManus, though a bit shaky since his return from injury, has converted four of eight field goal attempts. The Kirk Cousins third down miss on the money down, the change that probably costs Minnesota the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. His miss of a 64-yard attempt at the end of regulation would have sent the game to overtime.
Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia acknowledges McManus’s recovery process, stating, “Right now we’re working through coming back all of an injury, which he hasn’t had for a long, long time.” He added that McManus is improving, saying, “He’s striking the ball pretty good, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Typically, the Packers work their kickers on Wednesdays and Fridays in a normal week. With that gauntlet of a schedule, McManus and backup Aaron Havrisik will have every opportunity to prove their mettle. Havrisik has been the great next man up in McManus’s absence, setting a franchise record with a 61-yard field goal against Arizona. His performance earned him a spot on the roster despite McManus coming back from injury.
Havrisik said he was very encouraged about his health. He said he felt like he had “almost no pain” and couldn’t tell that his leg was hurting in recent practice this week. His preparedness has provided more depth to the entire kicking game as the Packers search to fill McManus’s lack of availability.
At this time, as game day nears and with McManus’s status being highly scrutinized, the Packers are leaving the door open. His injury will have a seismic impact on how the team shapes their plans going forward. They’ll evaluate what they’ve done lately and prepare for what lies ahead.
Leave a Reply