Trey Smack got off to a shaky start in training camp, but when the lights have gone on it’s been a much different story.
The Green Bay Packers rookie kicker had another perfect night in a preseason game Aug. 21 at Denver, this time going 4-for-4 on field goals, including two from 50 yards or more (51 and 59 yards), and making all three of his extra-point attempts.
Combine that with his 3-for-3 performance on field goals at Pittsburgh last week, with a fourth field goal from 58 yards nullified because the Packers accepted a penalty on the Steelers, and Smack hasn’t missed a kick in a preseason game.
That’s 7-for-7 officially on field goals, 3-for-3 on extra points, and one other 58-yard make taken off the scoreboard because of a defensive penalty that gave the Packers a first down.
“Feel great, but same thing, he’s gotta go do it again,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Smack’s kicking against the Broncos. “That’s life in the National Football League, you’re only as good as your last performance. He’s put two pretty darn good performances back-to-back.”
Smack hasn’t been nearly as good on the practice field, where he’s 24-for-34, though that includes going 6-for-7 at Lambeau Field on Family Night. The rest of his kicks have been in the often windy conditions of the wide-open Ray Nitschke practice field.
But in preseason games, Smack hasn’t missed and is 3-for-3 from 50 yards or more, or 4-for-4 if the make that was nullified by penalty against the Steelers is included.
“The talent is there, and he’s just gotta continue to be consistent,” LaFleur said.
Kamal Hadden moving up in nickel
Kamal Hadden has moved up the depth chart since getting healthy enough to practice full time and moving to the nickel slot position.
With starting nickel back Javon Bullard out with a foot injury, Hadden played the nickel spot with the starting offense against the Broncos, a role Kitan Oladapo played last week against Pittsburgh.
A big part of playing the nickel position is tackling, because the nickel back lines up much closer to the ball than outside cornerbacks. Hadden’s five tackles against the Broncos included two for loss.
Hadden is coming back from a gruesome dislocated ankle and broken leg suffered late last season. He only returned to team drills a little more than a week ago, and the Packers moved him from outside corner in the offseason to the slot in camp.
“Yeah, he was showing up,” LaFleur said of Hadden. “It’s been fun to watch his growth. Obviously as a player, but as a person as well, how he prepares. He comes in with a great attitude, he’s extremely coachable. It’s really cool to see that come to fruition in terms of his ability to go out there and make plays.”
If Hadden continues to hold that backup nickel spot through next week’s preseason finale, he’ll be in good position to make the 53-man roster.
Packers injury update
PUP: OLB Micah Parsons (knee), LS Matt Orzech, TE Luke Musgrave, DT Jordon Riley.
DNP: S Javon Bullard, RB Josh Jacobs, WR Jayden Reed, CB Carrington Valentine, T Zach Bako-Bewele, OLB Dani Dennis Sutton, G Aaron Banks, OL Darian Kinnard, TE Tucker Kraft, DT Devonte Wyatt, DT Javon Hargrave.
More takeaways from Packers-Broncos
∎ The starting guards were the same as in practice last week, with Jager Burton at left guard and Jacob Monk at right guard. Anthony Belton started at right tackle in place of Bako-Bewele, who has been practicing part time with rep limitations in his comeback from a torn patellar tendon.
The status of the Packers’ starting guards for the regular season is in flux, and there appears to be at least a chance that Burton and Monk could be the starters when the regular season opens.
Burton is in the running at the left guard position because of Aaron Banks’ knee tendinitis that has severely limited his practice time.
At right guard, Belton was the presumptive starter going into camp, but Monk and possibly Burton are pushing for that job too. Belton has been practicing mostly at tackle for more than a week now. The Packers might move Belton back to right guard when Bako-Bewele is able to practice full time, but if Belton were the sure starter it seems likely he’d be getting more work there than he has the past week.
∎ The Packers’ starting offensive line, left tackle to right, was Jordan Morgan, Burton, Sean Rhyan, Monk and Belton.
The No. 2 line was John Williams, Burton, Monk, Donovan Jennings and Belton.
The No. 3 line was Williams, Dillon Wade, Jennings, Glover and Brant Banks.
∎ Will Sheppard helped himself in the competition for what probably will be only one or two spots at receiver on the practice squad. He led the team in receptions against the Broncos with six for 47 yards, including a tough toe-tap catch along the sideline for a 2-yard touchdown catch against the Broncos’ first-round pick from 2025, cornerback Jahdae Barron.
Isaiah Neyor and undrafted rookie J. Michael Sturdivant are also in the running. Neyor had three catches for 47 yards against the Broncos, and Sturdivant had one catch for 8 yards.
∎ Undrafted rookie safety Mark Perry followed up his touchdown-saving tackle last week against Pittsburgh with a big play against the Broncos. This time he intercepted Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham late in the second quarter, which set up Smack’s 43-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.
Quote of the day
Jordan Love, who is not expected to play in next week’s preseason finale, on his performance in two preseason games in which he led a field-goal drive against the Steelers and a touchdown drive against the Broncos: “I think it was good. I think obviously the drive we had tonight ended on a great note. That was a good 12-play drive we put together. Guys executing on a lot of levels right there, so I think that’s a great note to end on. Obviously we’ll have a joint practice next week against the Cardinals, get a lot more good work in. But to end that on a preseason note right there, that’s good.”
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Kicker Trey Smack continues hot streak on game days | Packers insider
Reporting by Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Packers News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
