One of the biggest ongoing jokes in the NFL is that the current New York Jets team is really the Green Bay Packers East. Of course, four-time NFL MVP and future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the biggest of these names. However, there are multiple other former Packers players that have joined him.
Wide receiver Allen Lazard signed with New York before the Rodgers trade even took place. The signing was made in an effort to recruit the star quarterback to the Jets in the first place.
During this current season, two other former Packers players found their way to New York, though in different ways. Davante Adams was traded to the Jets by the Las Vegas Raiders in a move than many anticipated happening the moment Rodgers was sent to New York by Green Bay. Additionally, Anders Carlson was signed by the Jets after an injury to their struggling kicker, Greg Zuerlein.
Former Green Bay Packers Kicker Anders Carlson Is Actually Having a Good Season
As Packers fans know all too well, Carlson struggled in his only season in Green Bay. Selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft to replace Mason Crosby, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Carlson made 81.8% of his field goals and just 87.5% of his extra points.
He also led the NFL in missed kicks.
It took a while for the Packers to settle on Brandon McManus as their kicker this season, but Carlson was the first one that they cut after the preseason and training camp ended. He started to bounce around the NFL, trying out for multiple teams before landing an emergency starting job with the San Francisco 49ers.
Carlson appeared in just two games for San Francisco, but made all five of his field goal attempts (including a 59-yarder) and three of his four extra points.
After 49ers kicker Jake Moody came off of injured reserve, Carlson was released again. However, he was soon picked up by the Jets to replace Zuerlein. In two games with New York (prior to Week 14), Carlson had made his two field goal attempts (including a career-long 58-yarder) and three of his four extra points (his only miss was blocked).
Anders Carlson Catches Some Blame for the Jets’ Latest Loss
Week 14 saw Rodgers and Company eliminated from the NFL Playoffs for the 14th year in a row. While they were winning with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, the Miami Dolphins returned a Carlson kickoff 45 yards. They were able to get to New York’s 34-yard line and kicked the game-tying 52-yard field goal.
Miami went on to win in overtime.
For his part, Carlson was 4/4 on the day and made both of his extra points. But after the game, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich revealed that his kicker did not do what he was supposed to during the final kickoff in regulation:
The loss, however, cannot be totally pinned on Carlson. The rest of the special teams unit allowed the long return and the defense let the Dolphins get into field goal range.
Such has been the season for the Jets.
