The Packers couldn’t have seen this coming.
Although the Green Bay Packers’ training camp doesn’t officially start until July 23, the front office has already had to adjust after a freak injury sidelined a player on the 90-man roster.
It’s still unclear how Brian Gutekunst and the Packers’ decision-makers will fill the gap left by the injured specialist, who was expected to compete for the kicking job during camp. Unfortunately, he won’t get the chance to showcase his skills and potentially move up from the practice squad, where he spent last season, to the active roster.
Packers Release Kicker Alex Hale After Devastating Pre-Camp Eye Injury
Just days before training camp—and a kicking competition against Brandon McManus—Alex Hale’s promising opportunity was cut short. The former Oklahoma State standout suffered a freak eye injury during a workout, forcing the Packers to part ways and search for a new kicker as Hale faces weeks on the sidelines.
Freak deal with Alex Hale. Suffered an eye injury while working out and needs to take several weeks off. #Packers can't let Brandon McManus do all the kicking, so they had to let him go. It's possible he returns, but depends on who #Packers pick up and how it goes. https://t.co/yxEOzbMijN
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 21, 2025
Despite Brandon McManus signing a three-year, $15.3 million contract with Green Bay this past March, the Packers should still bring in another kicker to challenge him during training camp and the preseason. As Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel pointed out, not doing so wouldn’t make sense.
Although McManus performed well in the 11 games he played last season, it’s unrealistic to expect him to maintain a field goal success rate above 95% in 2025. This is especially true given his career average of 85%, and his field goal percentage since 2020 has generally hovered around 80%.
Packers fans will have to wait and see how the front office approaches adding another kicker for training camp.