Green Bay Packers rookie kicker Anders Carlson bounced back from a difficult start to his first training camp with an impressive performance inside Lambeau Field on “Family Night.”
Carlson made eight of nine field goal attempts, including five of at least 45 yards and a 51-yarder to end the competitive portion of practice.
Coach Matt LaFleur said the performance would help “build confidence” for Carlson, the Packers’ sixth-round pick.
“I was super proud with the poise that he showed and the execution. If we can get that, I think he’s going to be A-OK, because he’s got a big-time leg,” LaFleur said, via Packers.com.
Carlson, who was 16-of-27 on kicks to start camp, was good from 40, 44, 49, 43, 45, 51, 53 and 51 yards on Saturday night. His one miss came from 50 yards but was mostly the result of a poor snap. According to Paul Bretl, the snap was high, leading to a difficult hold.
Bouncing back is an important part of building resilency for a specialist in the NFL. On a night with 65,000 fans inside Lambeau Field, Carlson showcased his talent and proved to LaFleur he can respond to shaky performances.
Of course, one practice — even one of this magnitude — is still just one practice. Carlson must build on his great night at Lambeau Field over the rest of training camp, starting this coming week when the Packers go to Cincinnati for a joint practice and preseason game. As always, consistency is the name of the game.
