Packers Sign Kicker, Two Defensive Ends

The kicker competition has another player added to the mix. Alex Hale has been signed, along with two other defensive linemen.

Oklahoma State's Alex Hale (19) prepares to kick a field goal in the first half of the college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the Brigham Young Cougars at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. / SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Green Bay Packers are back to three kickers after signing former Oklahoma State star Alex Hale before the start of Wednesday's practice at training camp. They also bulked up their defensive line depth by signing ends Brevin Allen and Zach Morton.

The Packers signed Hale after incumbent kicker Anders Carlson and veteran Greg Joseph went 1-of-4 into a stiff wind on Tuesday.

While coach Matt LaFleur dismissed the tough day from Carlson and Joseph, stating we should all, "Chalk it up as a win for the wind yesterday," the Packers continue to search far and wide for a reliable kicker. 

Hale will join Carlson and Joseph in a kicking competition that has lasted all offseason and seen five kickers, including Hale, thrown into the fray. 

Hale was 27--of-34 on field goals during his final year at Oklahoma State, including 3-of-4 on kicks longer than 50 yards. 

Neither kicker has run away with the kicking derby. Just when it appeared Joseph had put some distance between himself and Carlson, he missed two kicks at Family Night on Saturday.

The Packers were likely hoping that Carlson could get back on track after a tough end of the season that saw him lead the league in missed kicks.

Carlson has picked up where he left off a year ago. He has a big leg, but is inconsistent.

He's below 80 percent through Tuesday's practice in training camp, and trails Joseph in the kicking competition based soley on kicks on the field.

Of course there is more to picking who the kicker will be than that, and the Packers have clearly not stopped adding competition to their kicker room.

Hale comes from an extensive background in sports after growing up on the southeastern coast of Australia.

Hale starred in almost any sport he tried, and wanted to be the best at everything he did.

“He just wanted to play sport,” father Glenn Hale said to The Oklahoman. “When he played soccer, he wanted to play for the Australian team. If he was playing tennis, it was Wimbledon. 

“He wasn’t obsessed. He was just naturally good at things.”

In addition to Hale, the Packers signed defensive linemen Brevin Allen and Zach Morton

In the corresponding roster move, they waived/injured cornerback Don Callis and wide receiver Rory Starkey. 

The defensive front could use a few reinforcements, as they've added two new bodies to the mix.

Defensive ends Kingsley Enagbare, Keshawn Banks and Deslin Alexandre are all battling various injuries. While Enagbare returned to practice Wednesday, but it's unclear what his status will be for Saturday's preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Morton, 25, went undrafted out of Akron in 2023. He signed with the team after a Tuesday workout.

Morton signed with the Lions after going undrafted in 2023 but was waived by the team on Aug. 5, before he played in any preseason games. That was his only NFL opportunity until landing in Green Bay.

Morton spent time with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL in 2024. He registered three tackles and a half-sack.

Allen spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.

Allen was a 2023 undrafted free agent who played in two games with the team last year after being elevated from the practice squad.

He has yet to record a stat in the NFL, but was productive in college for Campbell University, where he led the conference in sacks in 2021.

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