Packers Eye Potential Kicker After Lions’ Signing Spree
By Jovan Alford | Jun 18, 2024
The Green Bay Packers were among the teams interested in Michigan Panthers star kicker Jake Bates before he ultimately signed with the Detroit Lions.
The Packers are actively seeking to strengthen their kicker position after rookie Anders Carlson’s struggles in 2023. Bates would have been a strong contender to compete with Carlson, Greg Joseph, and Jack Podlesny.
However, another opportunity has arisen. Detroit announced Tuesday that they signed Bates and waived James Turner. Turner showcased a strong leg in the Lions’ offseason practices, making him a potential target for the Packers, who could benefit from his ability to make long field goals.
Turner, who signed with the Lions this spring after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Michigan, demonstrated impressive consistency last season with the Wolverines. The 6-foot kicker made 98.6 percent of his extra points (65-of-66) and 85.7 percent of field goals (18-of-21). Before transferring to Michigan, Turner spent four years at Louisville, where he maintained a 98.4 percent extra point success rate and 79.7 percent field goal accuracy. His best season at Louisville was in 2022, with 97.4 percent on extra points (38-of-39) and 90.9 percent on field goals (20-of-22).
Given the Packers’ current roster of three kickers heading into training camp, it would be surprising to see them sign another. However, Turner’s release presents an intriguing option, particularly as Carlson seeks to prove himself after an inconsistent rookie season. The competition from Joseph and Podlesny is expected to be fierce, making the upcoming training camp a critical period for Green Bay’s kicking team.
