IMAGE: Imagn Images
The Green Bay Packers walked out of Ford Field on Thanksgiving with a 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions, and while the offense clicked and the defense made timely stops, it was kicker Brandon McManus who quietly delivered one of the most reliable performances of the day. McManus was perfect-again-on all his kicks, continuing a trend that started the week before when he went 3-for-3 on field goals and nailed both extra points in a win over the Vikings.
That’s two straight weeks of clean kicking for a team that’s had anything but stability at the position this season. The Packers have cycled through options, battled injuries, and tried to find a rhythm on special teams. McManus’ quad injury still lingers in the background, though, and with the team releasing backup kicker Lucas Havrisik, the depth chart at kicker is suddenly razor-thin.
The Packers did make a roster move this week, but it wasn’t to reinforce the special teams unit. Instead, they signed wide receiver Will Sheppard to the active roster.
Sheppard, who made a name for himself as one of Shedeur Sanders’ go-to targets at Colorado during the Buffaloes’ first season back in the Big 12, brings size and explosiveness to a receiving corps that could always use more playmakers. He’s a vertical threat who can stretch the field and create mismatches-exactly the kind of weapon that fits the Packers’ evolving offensive identity.
But while Sheppard adds upside to the offense, the decision to let Havrisik go without a clear backup plan at kicker raises eyebrows. There’s always a chance Havrisik could return via the practice squad, but if not, the Packers are putting all their eggs in McManus’ basket-a risky move considering his health situation. If special teams ends up playing a deciding role in a postseason exit, that lack of depth could come under serious scrutiny.
And that brings us to Rich Bisaccia.
The Packers’ special teams coordinator has been under the microscope for much of the season. While the noise around his job status has quieted during the team’s recent winning stretch, the pressure hasn’t disappeared.
Havrisik had shown flashes earlier in the year, but never seemed to gain the full confidence of Bisaccia or head coach Matt LaFleur. Now, with Havrisik out and McManus nursing a quad, Bisaccia’s unit is once again a potential liability heading into the stretch run.
If the Packers fall short of expectations this season, Bisaccia could be the first domino to fall. It’s rare for a team to start reshaping its coaching staff by moving on from offensive or defensive coordinators before addressing special teams, and Bisaccia’s unit has had its share of miscues. That’s not to say he’s solely responsible, but in the high-stakes world of NFL coaching, special teams often becomes the scapegoat when things go sideways.
LaFleur himself isn’t immune to criticism either. He’s had some curious decisions at the running back position this year, though the strong performance from Josh Jacobs against Detroit helped quiet that storyline-for now.
Still, the broader narrative is that the coaching staff hasn’t always maximized the moves made by general manager Brian Gutekunst. Whether it’s personnel usage or game-day execution, there’s a sense that the staff needs to tighten things up down the stretch.
The Packers are in the thick of the playoff hunt, but the margin for error is slim. McManus’ recent consistency has been a welcome development, but the lack of a safety net at kicker is a gamble. If that gamble doesn’t pay off, it won’t just be the kicker under the spotlight-it’ll be the entire special teams operation, and potentially the coaching staff tasked with leading it.
