On the same day rookie kicker Anders Carlson missed a couple field goals at Packers practice, Mason Crosby made it clear he wants to return for a 17th season. The 38-year-old free agent posted a video to his Twitter on Thursday, showing he still has something left in the tank if a team needs a veteran kicker in 2023.
Buy Packers TicketsIn the words of @DeionSanders “I ain’t hard 2 find” #win #dadszn #football pic.twitter.com/KFb7JIepGV
— Mason Crosby (@crosbykicks2) August 24, 2023
After 16 years in Green Bay, Crosby was not re-signed following a season in which he didn’t have the same kicking power as before. However, Crosby attributed this to the effects of a knee surgery he underwent in July of 2022.
False on it not being stronger this year. Had knee surgery in July last year and battled it all season.
— Mason Crosby (@crosbykicks2) August 24, 2023
It wasn’t necessarily Crosby’s leg that caused the team go in a different direction. There were also salary cap implications to keeping an accomplished franchise kicker, and Green Bay wanted to start a new chapter with younger players.
So, they used a sixth-round draft pick on a cheaper, 25-year-old replacement in Anders Carlson. That marked the start of a roller coaster ride that still hasn’t ended.
Carlson has been unable to make field goals consistently throughout training camp and the preseason, but the team was prepared to deal with ups and downs of having a young kicker.
But with the start of the regular season a little over three weeks away, Carlson still looks shaky. The team needs a stable kicker in 2023 and Crosby is a potential option as long as he remains unsigned.
For now, all signs point toward Green Bay sticking with Carlson, but that could change when the kicks and points start to count.
