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Former Packers 6th-Round Pick Anders Carlson Cut After Minicamp, Struggles to Find New Team

New York, NY – June 24, 2025

The New York Jets have released former Green Bay Packers kicker Anders Carlson, a 2023 sixth-round draft pick, following a lackluster minicamp performance, per ESPN. The move leaves Carlson, once tasked with replacing Packers legend Mason Crosby, searching for a new NFL home as his career faces uncertainty.

Carlson’s lone season with Green Bay in 2023 was marked by inconsistency. Despite a powerful leg, he missed five field goals and four extra points, prompting his release, according to Pro Football Focus. Brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Jets followed, but Carlson’s struggles persisted. In 2024, he missed three extra points and two field goals within 40-49 yards for the Jets, though he showcased his range with a 58-yard field goal, per NFL.com.

At Jets’ minicamp, Carlson’s inconsistency overshadowed his potential. The team opted for undrafted rookie Caden Davis, signaling a lack of confidence in Carlson’s reliability, per Sporting News. “He’s got the leg, but the misses on routine kicks are costly,” an NBC Sports analyst noted.

Carlson’s challenges mirror the unforgiving nature of NFL kicking, where consistency trumps raw talent. His 2023-2024 stats—eight missed extra points and six missed field goals within 40-49 yards—highlight his struggles, per PFF. The Packers, after cycling through Carlson, Greg Joseph, and Brayden Narveson, settled on Brandon McManus, who hit 95.2% of his field goals in 2024 despite a key miss in a playoff loss to the Eagles, per CBS Sports.

At 27, Carlson’s youth offers hope, and his brother, Daniel Carlson, overcame early inconsistency with the Vikings to become a dependable kicker for the Raiders. Yet, with only two NFL seasons, time is ticking for Anders to prove his worth. “He needs a team willing to bet on his upside,” said Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine.

With $12.3 million in cap space, per Spotrac, teams like the Washington Commanders or Atlanta Falcons, seeking kicking depth, could offer Carlson a training camp invite. If no NFL opportunities arise, the Canadian Football League, as seen with Narveson, looms as a fallback.

As training camps approach in late July, Carlson faces a critical juncture. Can he refine his accuracy to secure a roster spot, or will his NFL dreams fade? His journey underscores the razor-thin margins of professional kicking. Stay tuned to ESPN for updates.

Dolphins Legend 3× Pro Bowl and 1× Super Bowl, Expresses Desire to Join Patriots After Being Released Due to Suspension – Willing to Give Up Everything to Repay the Team That Saved His Soul from His Darkest Days
Foxborough – November 20, 2025 The story of a former Dolphins legend – a player who was once selected to 3 Pro Bowls and owns 1 Super Bowl championship – is creating waves of emotion throughout the entire NFL. After being released because of a suspension, he is not seeking glory or an expensive contract. What he wants is to go to the place that once pulled him out of the mental abyss. A journey no longer revolving around fame, but revolving around gratitude. Right after the Dolphins officially announced the termination of his contract, he immediately contacted the New England Patriots side to ask for even the smallest chance. Not to rebuild his career, but to repay a debt of gratitude he believes he has never fully repaid. That sincerity has attracted attention not only from Patriots fans but also from neutral viewers, people who can clearly feel the desire for rebirth from a player who once stood at the pinnacle and then fell to the very bottom. In an interview broadcast last night, he left the entire press room in silence when he spoke about his darkest days. He said the criticism, the injuries, and the isolation had pushed him into a dead end. In that moment, he admitted there was only one single place that pulled him back up. “When the whole world turned its back on me, the Patriots were the only light that pulled me out of my darkest days. If I still have one chance in the NFL, I am willing to trade everything just to repay them.” And the player mentioned throughout the article is Odell Beckham Jr. He revealed that it was former head coach Bill Belichick who continuously called to check on him, even though he had never played a single snap for the Patriots. Those conversations were not about football but about the value of a human being. It was that sincerity, he said, that saved him from “the darkest moment of his life.” That is the deepest reason why he wants one day to wear the Patriots jersey – the place where Belichick once made history and the place where he believes he owes an entire spiritual life. Although the Patriots are seriously considering giving him a chance, according to sources from inside the league, he still holds hope that New England will open that final door. And at this moment, nothing is clearer than the truth that Odell Beckham Jr. is no longer seeking salvation for his career, but for his soul. If the Patriots speak up, he is ready to step in without hesitation – just as he said, only to be able to “repay the greatest debt of his life.”