Packers Kicker Brandon McManus’ Health Status Contradicts Team Statements
Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus reportedly told ESPN’s broadcast crew that this week marked the first time he’s been “semi-healthy” since initially sustaining a quad injury, a claim that sharply contrasts with the Packers’ coaching staff’s repeated assertions that his recent missed kicks are not injury-related.
Throughout the past several weeks, when questioned about McManus’ performance, Packers coaches consistently responded with “Kickers miss kicks,” maintaining that the misses were not attributable to injury. McManus has missed at least one kick in every game since returning to action, converting just four of eight field goal attempts overall. This has proven costly, as a successful field goal in each of the Packers’ three losses would have created an opportunity for overtime.
Currently, McManus is 3 of 9 on field goal attempts from outside the red zone and is statistically among the lowest-performing kickers in the league based on expected points added. Despite these struggles, the team relied on McManus late in yesterday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, where a 64-yard field goal attempt – after a timeout called by the Eagles – fell short. Observers at the game noted McManus was visibly struggling during pre-game warmups, missing from 57 yards and hooking several kicks to the left, mirroring his performance during the game. You can find more information about NFL player performance statistics at Pro-Football-Reference.
The situation is further complicated by the presence of Lucas Havrisik, who holds the Packers franchise record for the longest field goal made (61 yards) but has remained on the bench. The discrepancy between the team’s public statements and McManus’ reported comments raises questions about transparency and the team’s handling of player injuries, potentially impacting future roster decisions. For a deeper dive into NFL team management, explore resources from NFL.com and read about NFL team management strategies.
Team officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding McManus’ statements.
