The Green Bay Packers are set to open training camp later this month. This is the next in a series of articles previewing the Packers position by position, analyzing the talent on the roster and discussing key questions that are facing the team as they begin preparation for the 2024 season. Today we will examine the special teams. We will preview another position each day until the start of training camp.
To see our preview of the quarterbacks, click here and for defensive tackles, click here, click here for running backs, here for linebackers, here for tight end, here for defensive ends, for offensive linemen, click here and for safety here.
Packers 2024 Training Camp Position Preview Special teams, Kicker: Anders Carlson
Anders Carlson got off to a great start to his rookie season last year but struggled with consistency the rest of the season. In fact, no kicker missed more combined kicks than the former Auburn product.
Carlson has a very strong leg but will need to work with special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia to overcome his inconsistencies which are believed to be mostly psychological.
When you spend a draft pick on a kicker, you want that player to succeed. The Packers hope Carlson wins the kicking job, but they won’t hand it to him like they did a year ago.
Greg Joseph
Greg Joseph provides the Packers with experienced competition for Carlson. Statistically, however, Joseph has not been much better than Carlson was last season and he kicked indoors in Minnesota the last three seasons.
Joseph has five years of NFL experience but does not have the leg strength Carlson offers. The former Florida Atlantic star will turn 30 in August which would make him one of the older players on the Green Bay roster if he makes the team.
James Turner
The Packers signed James Turner after the Lions waived him in June. The former University of Michigan star has a strong leg and was more consistently accurate in college than Carlson.
Turner made 18-of-21 field goals for the Wolverines last season, good for an 85.7 percent success rate. He could give the Packers a more accurate alternative to Joseph and Carlson if he can prove himself in training camp.
Packers 2024 Training Camp Position Preview Special Teams, Punter: Daniel Whelan
Daniel Whelan punted 57 times last season for an impressive 46.2-yard average. He placed 18 kicks inside the opposing 20 while having only five touchbacks. Whelan also served as the Packers holder on field goals and extra points.
There is no competition for the punter position and barring a collapse, Whelan will be back as punter and holder in 2024.
Long Snapper:
Matt Orzech
Long snapper Matt Orzech played all 17 games for the Packers at long snapper last season after two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He did win a Super Bowl with the Rams.
Orzech struggled with his consistency last season which is why the Packers brought in competition for him in training camp.
Peter Bowden
Scouts ranked Peter Bowden as the top long snapper in this year’s draft class. The Wisconsin alum signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent. Many people consider him the most likely undrafted free agent to make the team and continue the team’s streak of having at least one such player earn a roster spot each season.
Bowden will battle Orzech in training camp and the more consistent player will win the job.
Packers 2024 Training Camp Position Preview Special teams, Return Specialist:
Keisean Nixon
Keisean Nixon earned All Pro honors as a return specialist the last two seasons. Nixon is an aggressive and fearless return man. The Packers are hoping he will excel under the new kick return rules being implemented this season.
Last season, he led the league in kick return yards with 782 and in average yards per return with 26.1.
Nixon is an elite kick returner and a good punt returner. If healthy, he will certainly be returning kicks and is likely to return punts as well.
Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed returned 11 punts last season and averaged 8.5-yards per runback. He was second on the team in punt returns behind Nixon.
Reed also led the Packers in receptions and receiving yards. His will likely have an increased role on offense and the coaching staff may not want to risk injury by having him return punts.
Bisaccia may look for other options to challenge Nixon as the team’s punt returner in training camp.
Three Key Questions for the Packers Special Teams
Packers 2024 Training Camp Position Preview Special Teams: Question One, Who Wins the Kicking Job
This year, the Packers have a rare, three-way battle for the kicking job. Ideally, the team wants Carlson to prove he is the best man for the job, but even if he wins it, he will likely have a short leash.
The Packers cannot allow inconsistency by their kicker to cost them games that could interfere with their Super Bowl aspirations. This will be an interesting battle in training camp and GM Brian Gutekunst won’t hesitate to bring in another kicker if none of the three get the job done.
Question Two: Who Wins the Long Snapper Battle?
Long snapper is another important battle and it’s connected to the kicking competition. The inconsistent performance at long snapper last season didn’t help Carlson or Whelan who often had to deal with bad snaps and still get the ball down for kicks.
Packers 2024 Training Camp Position Preview Special Teams: Can the Coverage Teams Improve?
The Packers punt and kick coverage teams have struggled in recent years. Last year, the kick return coverage was a little bit better although opponents averaged 23.8-yards per return.
The punt coverage struggled badly, and opponents averaged 11.7-yards per return and scored a touchdown on a punt return. Both coverage units need to improve in 2024.
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