Green Bay Packers Cut Kicker Amid Team's Ongoing Competition

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 14: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on in the second half of a preseason game against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field on August 14, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

The Green Bay Packers narrowed down their kicker battle to two players after announcing a cut.

On Wednesday, the Packers officially released Jack Podlesny. The former Georgia standout signed with Green Bay in January.

Podlesny converted 61 of 74 field goals and 182 of 184 extra points during three seasons with the Bulldogs. He earned first-team All-SEC and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year honors when making 26 of 31 field goal tries in 2022.

After making a 49-yard field goal in his first National Championship Game, Podlesny drained extra points during a blowout over TCU to secure Georgia's second straight title. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent but didn't make the Week 1 roster.

Podlesny lost a summer competition to Greg Joseph, who played every game for his third straight season in Minnesota. Joseph once again blocked the 24-year-old from an NFL job.

Green Bay signed the veteran from its NFC North foe to compete with last year's starter, Anders Carlson. The sixth-round pick converted 29 of 36 field goals as a rookie (playoffs included), including a perfect 22-of-22 from within 40 yards. Yet a 41-yard miss cost the Packers in a 24-21 Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Signed in March, Joseph has an 82.6 success rate on field goals in 67 career games with just one miss below 40 yards. The Vikings signed ex-Alabama star Will Reichard to compete with former XFL kicker John Parker Romo this summer.