Former Packers kicker Anders Carlson remains perfect with the 49ers

Two big-name kickers competed for the Green Bay Packers' placekicking job this summer: 2023 draft pick Anders Carlson and 2024 free-agent signee Greg Joseph. When both positions were eliminated in favor of Brayden Narveson, who was eventually replaced by Brandon McManus, Joseph was the first to find work. Joseph was signed by the New York Giants in late September, where he made 9 of 12 field goals but was only 3 of 6 for 39 yards.

Carlson was later added to the regular season roster and signed with the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad in Week 7 after injuries to starter Jake Moody and backup Matthew Wright quickly forced Carlson into the lineup. While the 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Carlson's first game of the 2024 regular season, he went a perfect 2-of-2, including a 55-yarder.

Against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Carlson went 3 of 3, including another 50-yarder. That year, he shot a perfect 5 of 5 on field goals and 3 of 4 on extra points, missing one against the Chiefs.

Last year, Carlson was arguably one of the bottom three kickers in the league due to his inconsistency. In October of his rookie year, the former sixth-round pick was 9 of 10 on field goals and 13 of 13 on extra points. From that point on, however, he was just 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) on field goals and 28-34 (82 percent) on extra-point attempts in the postseason.

Perhaps this is just another example of Carlson starting the season hot and eventually cooling off, but he has at least helped the 49ers in a pinch. Currently, San Francisco is 4-4, good enough to secure the lead in the NFC West. Even if Carlson moves on after Moody's recovery, it's safe to assume Carlson has found work elsewhere in the league based on his current performance.