Packers Week in Review: A Rookie Kicker Steals the Show in a 28-9 Loss

Football is back — sort of. The Packers opened the preseason in Pittsburgh last Thursday and lost 28-9, which sounds worse than it was. Preseason scores are the least interesting thing about preseason games. Here’s what actually mattered this week.

The Score Says 28-9. The Night Says Trey Smack.

The rookie kicker who spent two weeks making everyone nervous had the best night of anyone in green and gold.

Per Packers.com and Acme Packing Company, Smack was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals — 58, 38 and 37 yards — and technically 4-for-4, since another 58-yarder came off the board when Green Bay accepted a roughing-the-snapper penalty to extend the drive instead. All nine Packers points came off his foot.

Matt LaFleur couldn’t hide it afterward. Per Yahoo Sports, he said special teams coordinator Cam Achord had advised against the long attempt: “Cam was telling me no, I told him yes.” On hitting two 58-yarders in one game, LaFleur called it “pretty incredible.”

Two weeks ago Smack was 8-for-13 in camp and the job looked shaky. He’s the only kicker on the roster, and after Thursday, that looks a lot more like a decision than a default.

Love Played One Series and That Was the Point

Jordan Love went 3-of-5 in a single series, marching Green Bay down the field on the opening drive before it stalled and turned into Smack’s first field goal. That’s exactly what LaFleur said he wanted last week — get the starters real snaps, then get them off the field. Josh Jacobs sat out with the groin injury, as expected.

The Ugly: The Backup Defense Got Run Over

Once the starters came off, it got rough. Per Packers.com, the breakdowns started late in the first half and Pittsburgh finished with four long touchdown drives and a pile of 20-plus-yard plays. Steelers rookie Drew Allar and Will Howard combined to go 17-of-22 for 239 yards, with Allar accounting for three total touchdowns.

It was sloppy on both sides — Pittsburgh was flagged 11 times for 135 yards, Green Bay nine times for 76. But the depth pass defense is a genuine question, and it didn’t answer it.

Back in Green Bay: Tucker Kraft Is Back

The best news of the week happened at practice, not in the game.

On Sunday, Kraft took part in 11-on-11 drills for the first time since tearing his right ACL last November — and celebrated by catching a touchdown from Love and spiking the ball. He finished the day five targets, five catches, one touchdown.

His own assessment, per ESPN and WTMJ: “I think we’re a different team when I’m out on the field, and I think that’s obvious.” Hard to argue. He also noted his snap count will be managed early in the season — a planned ramp-up, not a knee concern. Kraft is doing all of this while still waiting on a new contract.

Also This Week

Keisean Nixon’s contract keeps hanging around. The Pro Bowl corner is in the last year of the three-year deal he signed in 2024, due $5 million in cash. Asked about it, he repeated the same line three times: “I just leave all contracts up between Gutey and my agent, Tory Dandy. I’m here to play ball.” He missed the first camp practice with a sore hamstring and said it had nothing to do with the contract.

Micah Parsons, patience required. Per ESPN, he isn’t expected back until at least mid-October. Week 6 against Dallas remains the optimistic target; around Week 8 is the more realistic one. He can return to practice after Week 2.

Roster move. Green Bay released undrafted rookie QB Kyron Drones on Aug. 15, days after he was sacked three times in six plays in Pittsburgh.

Next Up: At Denver, Friday

Friday, Aug. 21 — 8 p.m. CT / 10 p.m. Brasília time. No joint practice this week; Denver is one of the few teams that doesn’t do them. The Packers close the preseason at home against Arizona on Aug. 28, and a joint practice is expected that week — which likely means Denver is the depth guys’ audition, and it matters for the back end of the roster.

Go Pack Go. 💛💚

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