Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was captured on camera during a preseason game at Lambeau Field, where the team faced a defeat against the Houston Texans with a score of 26-7. Despite this setback, the Packers are viewed as strong contenders in the NFC for the upcoming 2024 season. Their performance in the latter part of the 2023 season, winning seven out of their last ten games, including a significant victory against the Cowboys in the Wild Card round and a narrow loss to the 49ers in the divisional round, has bolstered this perception.
As they gear up for the 2024 season, the Packers are aiming to enhance their roster to once again be in contention for the playoffs and potentially the Super Bowl. One potential avenue they are exploring is tapping into talent from the United Football League (UFL). Specifically, there is interest in Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates, who gained attention during the UFL’s inaugural weekend for his game-winning 64-yard field goal against the St. Louis Battlehawks. Bates’ remarkable performance has put him on the radar of several NFL teams, including the Packers.
According to Andrew Kulha of YardBarker, Bates’ exceptional display and potential availability in the NFL market make him an appealing prospect for Green Bay. Despite signing veteran kicker Greg Joseph earlier in the offseason to provide competition for second-year kicker Anders Carlson, questions linger about the reliability of either kicker, particularly for a team with aspirations of Super Bowl contention.
Anders Carlson, drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 draft for his leg strength, has shown inconsistency in accuracy, with only 27 successful field goals out of 33 attempts last season and notable struggles with extra points.
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