Anders

Carlson

Joseph, a journeyman who has had stints with the Giants and Commanders this season, is in line to replace Anders Carlson as New York’s kicker in Week 17 after Carlson missed field goal tries in back to back games, including a fourth quarter miss last week against the Rams. Joseph most recently mad two of his three field goal attempts in Week 15 against the Saints as Washington’s kicker. Joseph could be the fifth kicker to suit up for the Jets in 2024.

With the signing of Carlson comes the release of veteran Riley Patterson, who kicked for the Jets in their Week 9 win over the Texans. Carlson, who has kicked in two games for the 49ers this season, has gone 5-for-5 on his fields goals and 3-for-4 on his extra points, with three of his field goals coming from 40-plus yards out. The Jets are still hoping to have Greg Zuerlein (knee) back at some point in the season, but it looks like it will be Carlson kicking in Week 10 against the Cardinals.

Gipson returns to the 49ers after spending the 2022-23 seasons with the team. He signed with the Jaguars for 2024, but served a suspension for violating the league’s performance enhancing substances policy. It was initially a six-game suspension, but Gipson was not reinstated after the six games. The Jaguars released him earlier in the week without Gipson having played a game for them and now he’s back with the 49ers. K Anders Carlson was released from the practice squad in a corresponding move.

The team is also expected to elevate Anders Carlson from the practice squad on Sunday. The 49ers’ kicker injury luck has been terrible thus far but hopefully, Carlson can provide some stability.

Wright injured his shoulder in last week’s win against the Seahawks. Meanwhile, Jake Moody is expected to still be out due to an ankle injury. With neither in line to play this week, the 49ers signed Anders Carlson earlier in the week. Carlson previously started for the Packers and will now take on the job for a high-scoring 49ers offense as the kicking carousel turns again.

Jake Moody is expected to miss more time with a serious ankle injury and Matthew Wright hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter of last week’s win over the Seahawks. That might leave the Niners no choice but to roll with Carlson in Week 7 against the Chiefs. Carlson made 27 of his 33 field goal tries last season and missed five extra points for the Packers and lost his starting job in the 2024 preseason. The 49ers average three field goal tries per game, the second highest mark in the NFL this season.

Carlson’s late-season struggles in 2023 reportedly carried over to the offseason, and it appears the Packers will go with former Vikings K Greg Joseph as the starter in 2024. Carlson, brother of Raiders K Daniel Carlson, made 27 of his 33 field goal tries last season and missed five extra points. Joseph has had his own struggles, making just 79 percent of his kicks over the past two seasons.

Garibay produced a 92.9 percent field goal conversion rate with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades this season, the second-best average among UFL kickers. The Packers are searching for a reliable leg after 2023 kicker Anders Carlson converted just 81.0 percent of his field goal attempts, ranking eighth-worst among NFL kickers with at least 18 field goal attempts.

Joseph’s signing is a clear indicator that the Packers are not satisfied with Anders Carlson, who in 2023 missed six of his 33 field goal tries and five of his 39 extra point attempts. Those misses includes some critical late-season miscues for the rookie. Joseph, meanwhile, has struggled since his stellar 2021 season. Last year, he made only 80 percent of his field goal attempts and missed three of six kicks between 40-49 yards. This shapes up to be the league’s premiere training camp kicker competition.

The Packers, with longtime kicker Mason Crosby entering his age-39 season, may look to Carlson as the team’s next kicker. Crosby, a 16-year veteran, is only signed through the 2023 season. In five seasons at Auburn, Carlson connected on 72 percent of his field goals and 98.3 percent of his extra points. He could be used as a kickoff specialist in 2023.