Trey Smack gave the Packers exactly the kind of preseason debut they needed.
After an offseason and training camp that left plenty of questions hanging over Green Bay’s kicking game, the rookie stepped into the preseason opener and answered them cleanly. Smack went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, including a 58-yarder that stood out as the kind of kick that can change the mood around a specialist in a hurry.
He actually drilled another 58-yard attempt earlier in the game, but that one came off the board because a personal foul gave the offense another shot. Even with that wiped away, the visual was the same: Smack lining up from deep and sending the ball through with ease.
That mattered because the concerns were real. Smack had been missing kicks consistently early in camp, and Packers fans had every reason to be sensitive about the position after the way things unraveled with Brandon McManus at the end of the 2025 season. A shaky kicking setup is the kind of problem that lingers, and the rookie arrived in the opener with pressure attached.
Instead of tightening up, Smack handled it like a player ready for the moment. There was no obvious nervous energy, no signs that the spotlight was too big. He hit both of his long-range kicks cleanly and looked comfortable doing it.
For Green Bay, that’s the kind of performance that quiets the conversation about adding veteran competition. Smack didn’t just make his kicks; he gave the Packers a reason to trust that they may already have their answer at the position.
Camp struggles can mislead, and last season’s experience with McManus is a reminder of that. But after the opener, the rookie has put himself in a much better place.
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