Suddenly Unreliable Packers K Mason Crosby Not Yet In Danger Of Losing Job

Mason Crosby has been kicking in Green Bay for a long time. The Packers drafted him in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he has played in 257 combined regular and post-season games for them since then. But if it were up to some Packers fans, the 37-year-old kicker wouldn't make it to Game 258.

Head coach Matt LaFleur doesn't agree.

“No,” LaFleur said when asked whether the team would consider bringing in another kicker. “I would say absolutely not.”

Crosby's job status is a hot topic in Green Bay after the 14-year vet shanked a field goal in a three-point loss to division rival Minnesota on Sunday. The miss was Crosby's eighth in his last 14 attempts. Though he's the Packers' all-time leading scorer, he is connecting on a career worst 65% of his field goal attempts this season. He has also missed an extra point. Those numbers are drastically worse than a year ago when he was perfect, connecting on all 16 field goal attempts.

Should Green Bay opt for a change, they already have a kicker on their practice squad, JJ Molson. But at this point, Molson appears to be nothing more than injury insurance. LaFleur remains committed to Crosby.

“(A missed FG) never falls squarely on one individual,” LaFleur said. “Our operation has got to improve, and that’s from the snap to the hold to the kick. So we’ll continue to work on that, but certainly have a lot of confidence in Mason."

Crosby can kick away any lingering concerns and silence the noise by eliminating the misses. He'll have his first opportunity to do so Sunday afternoon when Green Bay plays host to the Rams.

 

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