Sports 3 min read

Green Bay Packers will continue to stick with Trey Smack despite rookie’s recent struggles

By The Best News Network November 6, 2026

Beyond their running game, the Green Bay Packers must also find consistency in their kicking game if they have plans to become a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season. After letting go of Brandon McManus this summer, they have relied on Trey Smack, whom they traded up to in the sixth round during this year’s NFL Draft.

While everyone expected there would be some growing pains with a rookie kicker, those concerns reared their ugly head in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, as Smack now leads the league with eight missed kicks (5 FGs, 3 PATs) – the most for a Packers kicker in the first eight games of a season since Max Zendejas had nine in 1988.

Trey Smack’s Week 8 performance with the Green Bay Packers

Oct 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack (28) watches a field goal miss during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack finished with three points after going 3-for-4 on his PATs. Overall, the Florida product has gone 11-for-16 on field goals (68.8 percent – good for 30th in the league) and 16-for-19 on PATs (84.2 percent – good for 31st in the league) for 49 points this campaign.

However, he will be remembered more for his first attempt, when he hit a “doink” off the left upright in the first quarter after Tucker Kraft made it 6-3, which gave Carolina a sliver of hope. Fortunately for Green Bay, his early miss didn’t cost them, as Josh Jacobs and Matthew Golden scored two more touchdowns.

Green Bay Packers remain committed to Trey Smack

NFL, Green Bay Packers, Trey Smack — Aug 28, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack (28) during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

In a recent media availability, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is adamant about sticking with Trey Smack at kicker, despite his recent struggles. That said, Smack has to repay the team’s trust in him in the next few games.

“I think he’s done a lot of good things,” LaFleur said of Smack. “The thing I like about Trey is he’s shown to bounce back. Never want to be in a bounce-back situation, but that’s football. You got to be able to be resilient and go out there and play the next play. It started off bad, obviously, this last game missing a PAT, and then he responded.”