Packers sign former Vikings kicker to boost competition at the position
GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers turned to a former division rival to help bolster competition at kicker following an inconsistent performance from a rookie this past season.
The Packers signed ex-Vikings kicker Greg Joseph to a one-year deal on Tuesday, according to Joseph’s agent, Brett Tessler.
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Joseph, who made 24 of 30 field-goal attempts and 36 of 38 extra-point attempts for the Vikings last season, will compete with incumbent kicker Anders Carlson and former University of Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, whom the team signed to a futures deal earlier in the offseason.
Carlson made 27 of 33 field-goal attempts and 34 of 39 extra points as a rookie sixth-round pick last season, missing a crucial 41-yard fourth-quarter field-goal attempt in the team’s season-ending NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco.
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Carlson missed at least one kick in 10 of the Packers’ final 12 games, prompting general manager Brian Gutekunst to vow to bring in competition after the season.
The 29-year-old Joseph spent the past three seasons with Minnesota, connecting on 83 of 101 field-goal attempts in 51 regular-season games for the Vikings. He broke into the league in 2018 with Cleveland, hitting 17 of 20 attempts his rookie season before appearing in two games with the Tennessee Titans in 2019.
Packers free agency tracker: Who’s coming, who’s going and who’s staying in Green Bay
FREE-AGENT ACQUISITIONS
JOSH JACOBS — RB
Green Bay reportedly agreed to terms with running back Josh Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing leader, early Monday afternoon during the opening day of the league’s free-agent negotiating window. The 26-year-old Jacobs, who’s rushed for 5,545 yards and 46 touchdowns in his five-season pro career, had 89 total yards and a rushing touchdown as the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Packers 17-13 on Oct. 9, 2023, in Las Vegas.JEFF LEWIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
XAVIER McKINNEY — S
Green Bay reached a four-year, $68 million agreement with ex-New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney, his agent announced Monday. The 24-year-old McKinney started all 17 games for the Giants last season in his fourth year in the league and finished the 2023 campaign with 116 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.BRYAN WOOLSTON, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
FREE-AGENT DEPARTURES
DAVID BAKHTIARI — LT
Green Bay announced the release of offensive tackle David Bakhtiari on Monday in a move that didn’t come as a surprise, despite his impressive 11-year career. The veteran tackle carried a massive $39.99 million salary cap number for 2024, and the oft-injured left knee that marred Bakhtiari’s final three seasons with the Packers finally brought an end to his time with the franchise. Bakhtiari, who is set to turn 33 on Sept. 30, does not plan to retire, but as of Monday it was unclear where he’s at in his recovery and how he’ll be valued on the open market.BRYAN BENNETT, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL — LB
Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell will be released by Green Bay when the new league year opens Wednesday, according to multiple media reports. The 30-year-old Campbell has spent the last three seasons with the Packers after signing with the franchise as a free agent during the 2021 offseason. The eight-year veteran has recorded 507 solo tackles, eight forced fumbles and seven interceptions across 115 regular-season games. While the exact financial savings for Green Bay are yet to be know, Campbell still had three years remaining on a five-year, $50 million deal he signed in March 2022 after his first season with the Packers.MATT PATTERSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
AARON JONES — RB
After failing to reach an agreement on a restructured contract that would lower running back Aaron Jones’ scheduled $17.6 million salary-cap number for 2024, the Packers released the seven-year veteran Monday.ASSOCIATED PRESS
JON RUNYAN — OL
Offensive lineman Jon Runyan, who began his career as a rookie reserve in Green Bay before starting 50 of 51 regular-season games for the Packers over the past three seasons (the first two years at left guard before switching to right guard last season), reportedly reached an agreement on a three-year deal with the New York Giants on Monday. After spending most of the second half of last season in a job-sharing arrangement with fellow guard Sean Rhyan, the 26-year-old Runyan tried to fight back tears in January as players cleared out their lockers, describing his time with Green Bay as “awesome” while he faced an uncertain future with the franchise that selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 draft.MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
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