The Green Bay Packers are facing intense scrutiny over their rookie kicker, Trey Smack, after a costly performance in their recent 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions. Smack missed two relatively easy field goals late in the game—a 26-yarder and a 35-yarder block—that significantly hurt the team’s chances. Despite this, head coach Matt LaFleur remains steadfast in his support, insisting Smack is still his kicker and confident in his future success.

However, Smack’s numbers paint a troubling picture. He leads the NFL with seven missed kicks this season and holds a league-low 77.4% conversion rate on all kicks, going just 11-for-16 on field goals and 13-for-15 on extra points. Notably, every one of his misses has come from inside 50 yards, a distance where most kickers in the league have high accuracy. This inconsistency stands in stark contrast to other recent kickers who were released despite better percentages, such as Brandon McManus (88.9% in 2025) and Harrison Mevis (82.6% in 2026).

The Packers’ general manager Brian Gutekunst, who has recently been active in improving the offensive line by signing veterans, now faces mounting pressure to address the kicking situation with similar urgency. There are experienced kickers available in the league, including Justin Tucker, Graham Gano, Younghoe Koo, and Matt Prater, who could immediately improve Green Bay’s reliability in this critical role. Given that the Packers consider themselves a Super Bowl-contending team in 2026, continuing with Smack, whose performance risks losing close games, is increasingly seen as a risky gamble.

Analysts argue that while Smack may have long-term potential, the priority for the Packers this season should be winning now. With Green Bay having just one playoff win since 2021 and finishing as the NFC’s No. 7 seed the last three years, the team's window is open. The time for patience is over, and decisive action is required to prevent further costly losses—starting with cutting ties with Smack in favor of a proven veteran kicker. Whether LaFleur and Gutekunst have the resolve to make that tough call remains uncertain.