Anders Carlson hasn’t had a great year, and Matt LaFleur knows it. Yet before the crucial NFC playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, LaFleur said that he would stick with the 25-year-old.

Unfortunately, when it came to proving his Green Bay Packers head coach’s decision to keep him on the matchday roster was correct, Carlson fluffed his lines. In the fourth quarter, the rookie kicker missed from 41 yards, which could have given Green Bay the lead over the 49ers at 24-17.

While he was warming up to take the kick on the sidelines, FOX broadcaster Tom Rinaldi made an intrusive revelation. Rinaldi said apparently coach LaFleur has mixed feelings about Carlson.

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He (LaFleur) said, ‘Every time he goes out there, I just pray guys.

To make matters worse, following the Carlson miss, the 49ers drove the other way in the next drive. They ended up scoring a touchdown through arguably the MVP of the season, Christian McCaffrey. From almost winning the game through a feigned goal to letting the tie slip by conceding, this was not the ideal finish for LaFleur.

Is Anders Carlson a bust for the Green Bay Packers?

Well, it would be harsh to judge someone for just one season, and that too in their first year in the big league. The Green Bay Packers drafted Carlson in the sixth round in 2023. Since then, he went 27-33 in the regular season, making all 20 kicks up to 39 yards but going 7-for-13 from 40 yards and beyond. However, he was 34-39 in extra points, which is the worst PAT rate in the league.

Anders Carlson as #17 (Image via Imago)

Still, LaFleur had faith in the Auburn graduate.

We have a lot of confidence in him. You’d like him to make every kick, no doubt about it, but I think it’s part of the growth process. A lot of young people, especially kickers, go through some trials and tribulations, unfortunately–We’re committed to him, and we’re going to see this thing through with him.

LaFleur before the 49ers game

Before his latest miss in the playoff game, he also had another bad kick in the Packers’ win over the Cowboys wild-card game. That win didn’t do much damage, but on this occasion, he wasn’t so lucky as Green Bay’s campaign came to an end.