Story by
Packers sticking with struggling rookie kicker Trey Smack
- Story by
- Packers sticking with struggling rookie kicker Trey Smack
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said his team will be sticking with struggling rookie kicker Trey Smack despite two costly missed field goals during Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions .
Smack missed a 26-yard field goal to end the offense's first drive of the game and then had a 35-yard field goal try partially blocked late in the fourth quarter. Both missed wide right.
Advertisement
When asked if Smack would be his kicker moving forward, LaFleur had a one-word answer: "Yes."
Smack is now 11-for-16 on field goals with a 68.8 field goal percentage through seven games. He's also missed two extra points. Among the 32 kickers with at least five field goal attempts in 2026, Smack ranks 29th in field goal percentage and 28th in extra point percentage.
The expected struggles of a rookie are here in full force for Smack.
"You never want to go through it. Trey is a guy who has proven he can do it. I know he can do it. We have to wipe this one clean and move on and hopefully we can be a little better," LaFleur said post-game.
Advertisement
Coming into Sunday, NFL kickers were 70-for-71 on field goal attempts under 30 yards, and the lone missed was blocked. Smack simply missed his 26-yard field goal wide right. While his 35-yard attempt was partially blocked in the fourth quarter, the trajectory was low and looked off line from the start.
According to ESPN, the Packers' seven combined missed field goals and extra points are the most in the NFL this season. Smack also ranks second to last in field goal points over expected at -7.28.
Here's Smack after the loss:
After trading up in the sixth round to take Smack, both LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst said they would be patient with him through the ups and downs of being a rookie specialist in the NFL. That patience is currently being tested.
Advertisement
"Every kicker you have is a bit of a risk, right? That's just the way the National Football League is. But we feel really good about Trey," Gutekunst said in early September . "He's had a great training camp. He's going to go through things like young kickers do in this league learning to kick in the different stadiums, outdoors and indoors. We'd like to think we have one for the long haul, but we'll see. He's got to go out there and do it. But everything he's shown us since he's been here is positive, and we're excited about him."
Assuming Gutekunst agrees with LaFleur on sticking with Smack, the rookie's chance for redemption will come Thursday night in primetime against the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers sticking with struggling rookie kicker Trey Smack
