GREEN BAY – Whether or not Brandon McManus requested a release, the Green Bay Packers believed handing the keys to their kicking position to rookie Trey Smack was the best move going forward.
The Packers effectively gave Smack the kicker job when general manager Brian Gutekunst traded a pair of seventh-round draft picks to select the Florida rookie in the late sixth round. Even if McManus remained on the roster for training camp, it was unlikely anyone but Smack would be the team’s kicker this fall.
Smack would have needed to kick miserably in camp to change that equation, something the team does not expect. Even after the Packers handed McManus a $1 million roster bonus in March.
So the Packers decided to narrow their kicking depth chart now rather than later.
“Gutey and I talked quite a bit,” coach Matt LaFleur said, “and I think it was only fair to Brandon and to our football team to make the move now.”
McManus’ release clears more reps for Smack to prepare for this season. The Packers still have Lucas Havrisik on roster, so Smack won’t be at risk of wearing out his leg in August, but the expectation is for their rookie to take the position.
Smack had his first public kicks during organized team activities May 27. Against no kick rush, he connected on 7 of 8 field goal attempts, pushing a 35-yard kick from the right hash wide right.
“I think we were just trying to put Trey in the best position possible moving forward,” LaFleur said, “and he’s going to get the bulk of it.”
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers cut Brandon McManus to give Trey Smack bulk of kicking reps
Reporting by Ryan Wood, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Packers News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
