GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers released kicker Mark McNamee from their practice squad Oct. 14, leaving open a position for another foreign-born player to take his spot in the International Pathway Program.

The Irish-born McNamee was signed when kicker Alex Hale, the team’s previous international player suffered a significant eye injury while training shortly before training camp. Hale had spent the previous year on the practice squad and was prepared to share kicking duties with veteran Brandon McManus during camp.

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Hale is completely recovered from the eye injury and was training in Green Bay so he would remain under the watch of the specialist who was treating him. The Packers did not announce an international addition to the practice squad as of Oct. 14, but it’s possible they will add someone before the week is out.

McNamee, who didn’t start with the Packers until August because visa issues delayed his arrival in the U.S., was passed up for an opportunity to kick in a regular-season game when the Packers played Cincinnati on Oct. 12.

With McManus experiencing soreness in his right thigh, the Packers signed Lucas Havrisik to the 53-man roster and ended up using him against the Bengals. He connected on field goals of 43 and 39 yards and three extra points.

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Havrisik likely will remain on the 53-man roster until the Packers are sure that McManus is healthy enough to kick in a game. The Packers play at Arizona on Oct. 19.

Hale, who is from Australia, would not count against the practice squad roster if signed as part of the international program.

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers release international kicker Mark McNamee from practice squad