Anders Carlson hits first NFL field goal to put Packers ahead in rookie debut
Green Bay Packers rookie Anders Carlson knocked a 52-yard field goal through the uprights in his team’s season opener against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, marking his first regular season field goal in the NFL.
His kick gave the Packers a 10-6 lead over the Bears ahead of halftime before another scoring drive added seven more points for the green and gold.
Carlson went No. 207 overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Auburn to the Green Bay Packers. He was just the first kicker Green Bay drafted since long-time special teams star Mason Crosby. Crosby had an 81.2% career make rate on field goals while with the Packers, and a long of 58 yards. He kicked for the squad in Wisconsin from 2007 to 2022.
At Auburn, Carlson was 79 for 110 on field goal attempts over five seasons with a percentage of 72% in his career. His longest make was from 53 yards out, which he scored as a freshman. He is the younger brother of another former Auburn kicker, Daniel Carlson, currently the kicker for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Bears, Packers scuffle after hit on Justin Fields
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears had tempers flaring early in their Week 1 matchup on Sunday. After Jaire Alexander saw Bears quarterback Justin Fields out of bounds with a hard hit, players from both sides began to scuffle on the Chicago sideline.
Alexander’s hit on Fields was legal and in-bounds but that didn’t stop the quarterbacks’ linemen from getting into the face of the Packers defenders. At one point, Bears receiver D.J. Moore shoved Alexander to the ground.
In the end, Bears receiver Chase Claypool and Packers nose tackle Tedarrell Slaton received offsetting unnecessary roughness penalties.
Watson unable to go for Green Bay
Packers quarterback Jordan Love is without star receiver Christian Watson in Green Bay’s season opener. However, Romeo Doubs was also listed as questionable late in the week but managed to play and score early in the matchup.
Both Doubs and Watson are in their second years in the NFL. As rookies, the two receivers combined for 83 catches, 1,036 yards and 10 touchdowns with Rodgers as the quarterback. Watson also missed three games last year with a bad hamstring.