Packers Stun the League — They’re Keeping Brandon McManus, Even After the Misses and the Injury.QQ

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a move that’s left fans, analysts, and even casual observers scratching their heads, the Green Bay Packers are doubling down on veteran kicker Brandon McManus for Monday night’s crucial showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field. Despite a season marred by misses, a nagging injury, and a perfectly capable backup waiting in the wings, head coach Matt LaFleur and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia are standing firmly behind the 34-year-old, whose performance has been anything but reliable in 2025. It’s a decision that defies conventional football logic—and it could cost the Packers dearly as they fight to stay afloat in the NFC North.

McManus arrived in Green Bay last season as a mid-year savior, stepping in during Week 7 and delivering stability when the team desperately needed it. He connected on an impressive 21 of 23 field-goal attempts across 12 regular-season and playoff games, including a clutch 38-yarder in the postseason. That hot streak earned him a lucrative three-year contract extension this offseason, a vote of confidence from a franchise that’s historically been unforgiving toward underperformers at the kicking position.

But 2025? It’s been a nightmare. Through six games—and just two since returning from injury—McManus has hit only 11 of 16 field-goal tries, good for a dismal 68.8% success rate. That’s the second-worst mark in the entire NFL, barely edging out the Los Angeles Rams’ Joshua Karty, who was unceremoniously benched after going 10-of-15 (66.7%). Karty’s replacement, Harrison Mevis, steps in this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers, a stark reminder of how quickly teams can pull the plug on a struggling kicker.

One of McManus’ misses still stings like a fresh wound: a 43-yard attempt in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns that was blocked but would have handed the Packers a 13-10 lead in what turned into a heartbreaking 13-10 defeat. Since then, the misses have piled up—three in his last two outings alone, including another 43-yarder last Sunday in a three-point loss to the Carolina Panthers. Three of his four non-blocked whiffs have come from the 40-49 yard range, a far cry from his 2024 accuracy where he nailed 6-of-7 from that distance (save for a playoff miss against the Eagles, ironically).

Compounding the frustration is McManus’ ongoing battle with a right quad injury that sidelined him for Weeks 6 and 7. LaFleur confirmed earlier this week that the kicker is “definitely” still dealing with it, yet the coaching staff insists it’s not the culprit behind the errant kicks. McManus practiced fully on Thursday and Saturday, and Bisaccia painted an optimistic picture ahead of the Eagles game.

“He’s getting healthier. He’s had a pretty good week kicking the ball,” Bisaccia said Friday. When pressed on why the team still has faith in him, the coordinator fired back: “Why not the confidence in Brandon? People miss kicks, people miss tackles, people miss throws, people miss catches, people miss blocks. He missed a kick in the game [against the Panthers]. He’s kicking off really well. He’s getting healthier and healthier by the day. Had a helluva set yesterday in practice, anticipate him having a really good day tomorrow.”

It’s a pep talk that rings hollow to many. After all, the Packers have Lucas Havrisik on the roster—a young, unproven talent who’s already proven his mettle. Havrisik stepped in during McManus’ absence and went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, highlighted by a franchise-record 61-yarder at the halftime buzzer in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. He followed that up with another solid outing against the Cincinnati Bengals. Even since McManus’ return, the Packers have kept Havrisik active, likely to ward off waiver-wire vultures, though he’s been a healthy scratch in the last two games.

LaFleur’s comments this week only fueled the confusion. On Thursday, he hinted at a “competitive situation” between the two kickers, saying the team would evaluate McManus’ health and go with “who we feel like gives us the best opportunity to go out there and compete and win.” By Saturday, however, he walked it back, insisting reporters had overread the remark. “Every spot on the roster is always a competition,” LaFleur clarified, effectively shutting down any real challenge to McManus’ job.

For a team that’s prided itself on tough, no-nonsense decisions—think Aaron Rodgers’ benching saga or the swift moves at quarterback in years past—this feels like a head-scratcher. McManus, now in his 12th NFL season, signed that extension expecting to be the steady hand guiding Green Bay’s special teams. Instead, his inconsistency has turned what should be a strength into a liability, especially in tight games where field position and clock management are king.

Bisaccia acknowledged the veteran’s frustration, chalking it up to rust from the injury and the unforgiving elements at Lambeau. “I just think he’s frustrated a little bit. This is the first time he’s coming off of an injury, so I think he’s frustrated a little bit with the ball … whether it’s going left and it’s a miss, or it goes right and it’s a miss, or it hits the upright and it’s a miss,” he said. “Those have been the things that have happened, so he’s got to get his groove back, and really, the only way to do that is in practice. We’re dealing with the elements all the time, which is a good thing for him, and he’s conquering that in practice. Again, we’re going to lean on a guy that’s had a tremendous performance up to this point, and we expect him to keep performing at a higher level as we get going. There’s still a lotta football left.”

“Tremendous performance up to this point” might be a stretch, but the Packers are betting on McManus’ pedigree. A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos, he’s no stranger to high-stakes moments. Yet with the Eagles looming—a team that’s been lights-out on defense and opportunistic on special teams—this feels like rolling the dice in a game Green Bay can’t afford to lose.

The injury report doesn’t offer much relief elsewhere. Defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot) and cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) are officially out, with Van Ness missing his fourth straight game after a red-zone sack on Joe Flacco in Week 6. LaFleur called injuries a “moving target,” noting Van Ness avoided surgery and IR but isn’t healing as quickly as hoped. “The hope was we’d have him back before this, and that hasn’t been the case. It’s certainly not anything he’s doing or not doing to try to get back,” the coach said.

Four others are questionable: wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder), right tackle Zach Tom (back), wide receiver Savion Williams (foot), and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf). Golden sat out the last two practices after a limited Thursday, while Wicks—who’s missed the prior two games—hinted he’ll be a game-time decision.

As the Packers huddle up for this primetime tilt, all eyes will be on McManus. One more shank could turn “bombshell” into “breaking point.” For now, though, LaFleur’s faith—or stubbornness—prevails. In the volatile world of NFL special teams, that’s either bold leadership or a recipe for regret. Lambeau will tell the tale on Monday night.