Matt LaFleur says Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack has made an early impression after veteran cuts

The Packers have simplified a position battle by going with rookie kicker Trey Smack, leaving him as the only kicker on the roster after the team cut veterans Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik. In comments relayed by Yahoo Sports, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he feels “great” about Smack’s start, a stance that matters because the kicking job can quickly become one of the most scrutinized roles on an NFL roster.

Green Bay selected Smack in the sixth round earlier this year, a draft investment that often comes with a mix of upside and patience. What has changed recently is that the Packers have moved on from two established incumbents rather than keeping a deeper kicking room for a longer evaluation window. According to the report, the decision left Smack as the clear option for practice and game reps as the club worked through the early preseason period.

LaFleur’s tone suggests the team viewed Smack’s early work as more than simply acceptable. The Yahoo Sports report notes that through two preseason games, the decision to keep Smack has looked like a good one. While the piece does not provide detailed kicking numbers, it frames the preseason stretch as a validation point, not just a chance to keep a young player around.

The practical implication for the Packers is roster rhythm. In-season, the margin for error at kicker is tight, and teams prefer consistency in approach, timing, and communication on long and short attempts. By cutting both McManus and Havrisik, Green Bay effectively reduced the variables that come with multiple kickers rotating between snaps, holds, and kickoff timing, allowing special teams units to settle into one routine around the same player.

For Smack, the early confidence from the head coach is also a clear message about his role. A rookie kicker can face a different kind of pressure than position players, because every attempt is immediate and the consequences of routine mistakes are visible on the scoreboard. LaFleur’s reported confidence, coupled with the roster outcome, indicates the Packers believe Smack can handle those demands as the preseason moves toward regular-season form.

Still, preseason indicates do not automatically translate to the regular season, especially for kickers whose performance can be influenced by weather, kickoff cover schemes, field conditions, and game-state selection. The report’s emphasis on the first couple of games is therefore best read as an early endorsement of trajectory, not a guarantee that the position will be entirely settled by September.

The most important thing to watch next is how the Packers manage Smack’s workload and execution as the preseason concludes. If Green Bay keeps leaning on him for late-game situations and maintains a consistent special teams cadence, it would reinforce the idea that the team’s early call was more than just a roster shortcut. If the kicking unit’s rhythm holds, the Packers’ offseason and roster-building decision around Smack will have a better chance of looking fully justified by the time the regular season begins.