{"id":121320,"date":"2025-11-16T00:32:37","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T00:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=121320"},"modified":"2025-11-16T00:36:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T00:36:37","slug":"packers-make-two-major-roster-decisions-before-facing-giants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=121320","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 JUST IN: The Packers make two bold roster decisions right before the matchup with the Giants sending shockwaves through the fanbase as coaches signal a deeper strategic shift that could redefine Green Bay\u2019s identity heading into a must win moment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GREEN BAY, Wis. \u2013 Before lifting off for Sunday\u2019s game against the New York Giants on Saturday, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur added kicker Brandon McManus to the injury report as doubtful and left receiver Malik Heath in Green Bay.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what the two roster decisions mean for Sunday\u2019s game against the Giants.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, kicker Brandon McManus, who missed two games with an injured right quad and had struggled in his three games back in the lineup, said he was ready for the stretch run.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Definitely healthy now,\u201d he said. \u201cI was healthy enough to play and it was our decision from the medical, how I was feeling at practice, and look forward to performing the way I know how to.\u201d<\/p>\n

McManus kicked on Friday and was not on the injury report. However, he reported tightness when he arrived at Lambeau Field on Saturday and the Packers added him to the injury report. The Packers didn\u2019t rule him out, but players who are doubtful almost never play.<\/p>\n

With that, the substitute teacher, Lucas Harisik, almost certainly will be the substitute kicker for this game and maybe for the next week or two after biding his time the last three weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI pray a lot and just know that God\u2019s in control of all circumstances,\u201d he said recently. \u201cSo, whatever situation I\u2019m in, it\u2019s good, whether I\u2019m here or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a tale of two seasons for McManus. He was second in the NFL in field-goal percentage last season, with that 95.2 marksmanship setting a Packers record. This season, of 32 kickers with at least 10 field-goal attempts, he is last at 64.7 percent.<\/p>\n

After making all five kicks against Detroit in Week 1, he\u2019s missed at least one kick in every game, including a blocked field goal against Cleveland and a blocked extra point against Dallas. He missed the next two games with the injury, then went 2-of-4 on field goals against Pittsburgh, 2-of-3 on field goals against Carolina and 0-for-1 on field goals against Philadelphia, though that miss came on what was practically an impossibly long 64-yarder on the final play.<\/p>\n

With McManus keeping his job, what was the point of keeping Havrisik on the roster?<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Lucas is a really good young, up-and-coming kicker, as well,\u201d coach Matt LaFleur said. \u201cSo, fortunately for us, we have the flexibility within our roster to carry two.\u201d<\/p>\n

Good thing.<\/p>\n

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<\/canvas>\"Packers<\/picture><\/figure>\n

Green Bay Packers kicker Lucas Havrisik (35) celebrates a field goal with punter Daniel Whelan (19) against the Arizona Cardinals. \/ Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Havrisik is 4-of-4 on field goals, including a franchise-record 61-yarder against Arizona, and 6-of-6 on extra points in his two games.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s nice,\u201d he said of the success. \u201cI really don\u2019t celebrate them too much just because that\u2019s the standard for us \u2013 making your kicks. If I go a whole season without missing, then I\u2019d be like, \u2018All right, cool.\u2019 But every week, you\u2019ve got to keep the same level of emotion of even-keel, just because it really doesn\u2019t matter what you did last week. What are you going to do now?<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, very thankful for that. Obviously, it\u2019s great, but I just try to focus on my next kick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did Not Travel: WR Malik Heath<\/h2>\n

Almost bigger news than who\u2019s kicking was the decision to not let receiver Malik Heath travel with the team. Typically, a coach\u2019s decision to leave a player at home is disciplinary.<\/p>\n

To say it\u2019s playing time-based would be pure conjecture. However, it was interesting to note last week that Bo Melton went from focusing on cornerback to start the season to playing 26 snaps on offense against the Eagles last week. Heath played only 20. Moreover, Melton was targeted five times and Heath was not targeted at all.<\/p>\n

In nine games this season, Heath has caught all six targets for 86 yards. His first career touchdown put the Packers ahead late in the 2023 loss at the Giants.<\/p>\n

The Packers will go into this game with the veteran trio of Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson and Malik Heath atop the rotation. They\u2019ll be joined by Melton and, perhaps, rookies Matthew Golden (shoulder) and Savion Williams (foot), who are questionable.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fun, for sure,\u201d Melton said of playing on offense and defense. \u201cBeen doing both this week. We\u2019ll see what comes on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Melton spent this week getting most of his practice snaps at receiver. He caught two passes but had a critical fourth-down drop.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like last game, I was running good routes and stuff,\u201d he said. \u201cIt just takes a minute to get connection with Jordan. I think this week, we\u2019ve been doing a good job of me getting some catches in. So, when the time comes in the game, I\u2019ll be ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a lot on Melton\u2019s plate considering he\u2019s also a core player on special teams and could be one snap away from playing cornerback on defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my job and what I\u2019m asked to do,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not going to say it\u2019s a lot mentally. It\u2019s what you study for. If they put more on your plate, you\u2019ve got to study more. Playing all three phases, you\u2019ve got to study more. It\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n

With only cornerback Nate Hobbs ruled out, the Packers did not elevate a defensive back from the practice squad.<\/p>\n

That means they\u2019ll go with Bo Melton and Kamal Hadden as the next man up if something were to happen to starters Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine.<\/p>\n

They also did not elevate one of their four receivers on the practice squad. Last week, it was a sign that Melton would be a key figure on offense with Matthew Golden inactive and Savion Williams highly limited.<\/p>\n

This week, it\u2019s probably a sign that one or both of the rookies will be in the mix against the Giants.<\/p>\n

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY PACKERS NEWSLETTER<\/p>\n

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Here are the 10 most important players for the #Packers for Sunday’s game at the Giants, from @JacobWestendorf. \u2b07\ufe0fhttps:\/\/t.co\/FhxlfEbKR0<\/p>\n

\u2014 Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) November 15, 2025<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

More Green Bay Packers News<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GREEN BAY, Wis. \u2013 Before lifting off for Sunday\u2019s game against the New York Giants on Saturday, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur added kicker Brandon McManu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":121321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-121320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\udd25 JUST IN: The Packers make two bold roster decisions right before the matchup with the Giants sending shockwaves through the fanbase as coaches signal a deeper strategic shift that could redefine Green Bay\u2019s identity heading into a must win moment - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=121320\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udd25 JUST IN: The Packers make two bold roster decisions right before the matchup with the Giants sending shockwaves through the fanbase as coaches signal a deeper strategic shift that could redefine Green Bay\u2019s identity heading into a must win moment - 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