Greg Joseph, a former kicker for the Green Bay Packers, was added to the practice squad by the Detroit Lions on Tuesday. Since adding Jake Bates, their starting kicker, to the team through the UFL in June, the Lions have experimented with their kicking room throughout 2024.
It does not seem like Joseph will be pressing Bates for the starting job anytime soon after Bates, who the Packers tried to sign as a free agent, went two of two for the Lions on field goals and two of two on extra points last week. The Lions are now one of just two teams with a placekicker on their practice squad who does not have an international exemption after Joseph’s acquisition. The Packers’ next opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, is the opposite team.
In order to replace the then-incumbent starter Anders Carlson, who had a difficult debut season in 2023, Green Bay signed Joseph this offseason. Joseph previously started for the Minnesota Vikings in 2021–2023 as their kicker. After beating out Carlson to be maintained on the Packers’ 53-man roster at cutdowns, Joseph was waived when the Tennessee Titans selected Brayden Narveson off of waivers.
It is interesting to note that when the Lions tested Joseph, they also worked Carlson out. In the end, the Lions selected Joseph over the former Auburn product, following the same course of action as the Packers.
