13 Days Until Training Camp: Replacing Crosby’s All-Time Greatness

The pressure will be on rookie Anders Carlson to replace longtime Packers standout Mason Crosby, who is approaching top-10 status for scoring and field goals.

Mason Crosby (Photo by Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images)

GREEN BAY, Wis. – When the Green Bay Packers step on the field for the first practice of training camp in 13 days, the special-teams spotlight on rookie kicker Anders Carlson will be blindingly bright.

The man he’s replacing, Mason Crosby, is one of the great kickers of all-time. In NFL history, Crosby ranks 13th with 395 field goals. Only 11 kickers have booted 400.

With 1,918 points, Crosby ranks 11th in NFL history. Assuming he’s signed and makes a roster, he’ll likely become the eighth player to reach 2,000 career points, a testament to his longevity and consistency at what’s often a revolving-door position manned by expendable players.

“I’ve done it for a long time. I’m a known entity,” Crosby told ESPN Wisconsin recently. “Teams would probably just want to see that I’m ready to go and I have a little bit left in me.”

Carlson is an unknown entity. He wasn’t very good at Auburn, with only one strong season in five years. From 40 to 49 yards, he was 25-of-39 (64.1 percent). From 50-plus yards, he was 5-of-17 (29.4 percent). Added together, he was a woeful 30-of-56 (53.6 percent) from 40 yards and beyond.

But he’s got a big-time leg and a big-time supporter in esteemed special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia.

It’s worth noting that inconsistent college kickers often find that consistency in the NFL – though it takes time and patience. Time and patience can be in short supply in the NFL, though.

The Vikings whacked Daniel Carlson in 2018 after his second career game was a disaster at Lambeau Field. With the Raiders, Carlson is the reigning All-Pro kicker and has topped 90 percent accuracy each of the last three years. Clearly, the impatient Vikings missed the boat. The Packers had their patience rewarded by sticking with Crosby through a couple tough seasons.

On the other hand, a few missed kicks can turn into a few more missed kicks. When is enough enough when 52 sets of eyes are staring at the one guy who cost them a win? Teams like the Packers, who probably don’t have much margin for error on a week-to-week basis, can’t cling to potential for an indefinite period.

“Didn’t Peyton Manning lead the history of the National Football League of interceptions as a rookie?” Bisaccia said. “I think with all players in the National Football League, they’re going to ride the rollercoaster at times, regardless of the position. It just happens that the kicker is out there by himself, and they’re usually put in critical situations where you’re counting on them to come through.

“So, I think we’re all prepared organizationally if Anders can perform like we think he can and can improve, I think we’re prepared organizationally, as well as with a majority of the other draft picks, to weather the storm to some degree.”

General manager Brian Gutekunst said the door isn’t closed on Crosby. If Carlson is struggling deep into August and Crosby remains unsigned, perhaps the Packers will let Crosby hit those aforementioned milestones in a Packers uniform.

Or, with the team transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, perhaps it’s time to permanently transition from the record-setting Crosby, who’s scored more points than the next two players on the franchise career list combined.

“Never count anything out in this game,” said Crosby, who will turn 39 exactly one week before the season-opening game at the Chicago Bears. “Weird stuff happens every year and you never know. You never know what’s going to happen.”

Crosby is coming off a strong season. He made 25-of-29 field-goal attempts (86.2 percent) despite sitting out most of training camp following offseason knee surgery. He blasted a 56-yard field goal through the winter cold against Minnesota in Week 17, tied for the longest field goal in Lambeau Field history. His worst-in-the-league kickoffs should be better now that he’s beyond the injury, though Carlson should be a clear upgrade in that phase.

When the Packers start training camp on July 26, it will be Carlson’s job to lose as the only kicker on the roster. While Carlson made 11-of-12 field-goal attempts during his only sessions in front of reporters, Crosby will be ready and waiting should there be an emergency in Green Bay or elsewhere.

“It’s been unreal that this is the first time in 16 years that I’ve been a free agent,” Crosby said. “Been so fortunate and really thankful that through all these years I’ve been able to get a deal done with the Packers before I ever tested the market. So, it’s a little bit unknown.”

Countdown to Packers Training Camp

14 days until training camp: Previewing the 14 opponents

15 days until training camp: Aaron Jones, touchdown machine

16 days until training camp: Two months until Week 1 at Bears

16 days until the first practice of #Packers training camp.

Two months until we learn whether Aaron Rodgers handed Jordan Love his office key at Soldier Field.https://t.co/EgzAbQULFW

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) July 10, 2023

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