Matt LaFleur isn’t planning to make a change at kicker. After Green Bay’s last-second loss to Detroit on Sunday, the Packers coach said Trey Smack will remain the team’s kicker heading into Thursday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
That means the rookie is set to get another shot on a short week, with the Packers turning around quickly for their second Thursday Night Football game of the season. Smack had a rough afternoon against the Lions, missing two field goals from inside 35 yards.
One of those attempts was blocked, and it also made him the first kicker in the NFL this season to miss two kicks of that distance in a game. For the year, he’s 11 of 16 on field goals, with four of those misses coming over the last three weeks.
He has also missed two extra points in 2026.
Green Bay is also bracing for changes up front. LaFleur said he expects both Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk to be out next week after the two centers went down with injuries early in Week 7.
He didn’t offer any detail on whether either issue is likely to linger beyond Carolina, but for now the Packers appear headed toward John Williams handling the center duties. Williams got his first offensive NFL snaps on Sunday.
The offensive line picture, though, may not require a new signing. Green Bay entered the week “oversigned” along the line and had to leave three linemen inactive to get down to a 48-man game-day roster.
The more likely move is activating two of Kevin Zeitler, Donovan Jennings and Jager Burton from that group. Two of those players, together with Aaron Banks, are expected to serve as the Packers’ backups on the line against the Panthers.
In Other News...
Jonathan Taylor Feels Like The Packers Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Jonathan Taylor keeps coming up as the kind of player Packers fans cant help but imagine in green and gold. The Colts running back has the rsum to spark that kind of chatter, and his blend of production and age makes him easy to picture as a fit in Green Bays backfield if the team ever wanted to add another proven weapon around Josh Jacobs.
The problem is that this conversation is still rooted in speculation, not movement. Green Bay would need the right trade setup to make it work, and the contract side of it adds another layer to the debate as fans weigh whether the idea is realistic or just the sort of offseason buzz that keeps a big-name player attached to the Packers until something more concrete changes. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Roster Crunch Just Got Real Ahead Of Lions Game
The Packers tightened their roster for a crucial divisional matchup by activating running back Josh Jacobs, defensive lineman Jordon Riley and receiver Coleman Owen to the active roster before facing the Lions. Green Bay also elevated edge defender Arron Mosby from the practice squad for game-day duty, a sign the team is making its final adjustments with injuries already thinning out the available group.
Even after those moves, the numbers remain tight. The Packers have 54 players available for a 48-man game-day roster, which means more trimming still has to happen as they sort through several players listed as out or questionable. With the roster math getting crowded and the injury report still shaping the plan, the last few decisions could end up being just as important as the additions. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Face A Jonathan Taylor Question Fans Will Definitely Debate
Jonathan Taylor suddenly looks like the kind of name that can reshape the running back market before the NFL trade deadline, with Indianapolis reportedly open to moving him after the dismissal of general manager Chris Ballard. ESPN and NFL Network have both linked four teams to the situation, including the Packers, as Green Bay weighs whether a talent like Taylor is worth pursuing with its current backfield in mind.
For the Packers, the appeal is obvious enough to make the conversation linger. They can be evaluated against a handful of other rumored suitors based on roster need and backfield structure, which is exactly why this is the sort of possibility that invites a long fan debate in Green Bay. The question is not just whether Taylor would help, but how much sense he makes compared with the other places where his name is circulating. [Read more 🡒]