After going through their offseason program with three kickers, the Green Bay Packers announced the release of former Georgia standout Jack Podlesny on Wednesday, seemingly setting up a training-camp showdown for the job between incumbent Anders Carlson and former Minnesota Vikings kicker Greg Joseph.
But on Monday, the Packers announced they had been awarded kicker James Turner off waivers after he was released by the Detroit Lions. The Lions let go of Turner after signing kicker Jake Bates from the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League.
Turner made 18-of-21 field-goal attempts and 65-of-66 extra-point kicks for Michigan last season after kicking for Louisville the previous three seasons. He signed with Detroit as an undrafted rookie on May 10.
Carlson joined the Packers from Auburn as a sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. In his first five NFL games, Carlson made all seven of his field-goal attempts and each of his 10 extra-points kicks. For the remainder of the campaign, he made 22-of-29 field-goal attempts and 36-of-42 extra-point kicks.
On his final kick of the season, Carlson missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt with 6:18 left to play in Green Bay’s 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the NFC playoffs.
Joseph served as Minnesota’s kicker for a third season in 2023. He made 24-of-30 field goal attempts and 36-of-38 extra-point tries last season before leaving in free agency this offseason.
The Packers’ rookies report on July 17 and the veterans come in on July 21 for training camp. Green Bay opens its three-game preseason schedule on Aug. 10 by visiting the Cleveland Browns and kicks off its regular-season slate on Sept. 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
