Instead of creating a three-player competition at kicker during training camp, the Green Bay Packers are waiving Lucas Havrisik in the wake of the team’s signing of kicker Lenny Krieg, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Bill Huber of Packers on SI reported earlier on Tuesday that the Packers would sign Krieg, a German-born kicker who was among nine players to try out in Green Bay on Monday. The initial thought was that Krieg, who could qualify as the team’s international exemption player, would join a kicking competition including Havrisik and sixth-round pick Trey Smack. Instead, the Packers will swap out Havrisik for Krieg, who will go into training camp as Smack’s primary competition.
It’s Smack versus Krieg for the right to be the Packers kicker in 2026.
Silverstein also reports that Krieg will not be taking the international spot of edge rusher Dante Barnett.
Havrisik joined the Packers last season as an injury replacement for Brandon McManus. He ended up making all four of his field goal attempts, including two crucial kicks in a nine-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals and a franchise record 61-yard field goal to end the first half of the Packers’ comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals. However, Havrisik did miss a pair of extra points during a windy day at MetLife Stadium in mid-November, and he didn’t kick for the Packers again.
In Smack and Krieg, the Packers now have a favorite to win the kicking job (Smack) and a young, developing kicker who can be stashed as the 17th player on the practice squad (and emergency kicker) if Green Bay wants to make Krieg the international exemption player entering the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers will release Lucas Havrisik after signing new kicker to start camp
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Kruse, Packers Wire | USA TODAY Network
