How Concerning Should Fans Be About Green Bay’s Special Teams?

After a solid Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, the Green Bay Packers’ special teams unit committed a slew of errors in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. Usually, it would be unfair to categorize the entire special teams units under the same umbrella, but there were mistakes in multiple departments on Thursday.

Just how concerned should fans be with Green Bay's special teams?

Let's start with the brighter spot.

At the end of the first half, kicker Brandon McManus pulled a 48-yard field-goal attempt that smacked off the left upright and kept Green Bay's lead at 14-3 instead of 17-3.

McManus has been nearly automatic since joining the Packers during the middle of last season. After his miss at the end of the first half on Thursday, he made both of his other field-goal attempts as well as his only other extra-point attempt.

The operation looked clean on McManus' lone hiccup, and it wasn't some egregious, wildly off-the-mark miss. There shouldn't be any concern about the right leg of Green Bay's kicker.

On the other hand — or other foot — Jeff Hafley's defense forced a three-and-out on Washington's opening possession of the game. The Commanders brought on the punt unit, and the Packers avoided disaster on the ensuing play. Rookie Matthew Golden backpedaled to his own six-yard line before receiving the punt and taking a two-yard loss.

While Golden was ultimately tackled right near the goal line, the Packers were fortunate to have his forward progress marked at the four-yard line. As far as levels of concern go, punt return is high on the list.

Veteran Mecole Hardman didn't make the team largely because he wasn't able to carve out a role as the punt returner. Two massive errors in the preseason opener helped seal his fate when the Packers trimmed the final roster down to 53.

Jayden Reed never grasped the role in his first two years despite ample opportunity. It probably wouldn’t be a great idea to call upon him even if they could, which they can’t, given that he’s set to miss a lot of time with a broken collarbone.

At this point, when Green Bay sends out its punt returner, the whole fanbase is holding its collective breath. For whatever reason, the Packers haven’t been able to settle on a solid option at punt returner. Golden's error of backpedaling to receive it so deep in his own territory just added another flub to a long list of Packers punt-return errors in recent years.

In Week 1, Green Bay had the second-best starting field position and held the Lions to 29th in that same category. Week 2 was a different story. A facemask call during a Packers punt put the Commanders at their own 45-yard line to start the drive. Later, a 24-yard punt return by Washington's Jaylin Lane put the Commanders at their own 43. Fortunately, the Green Bay defense held firm in both cases.

To start the second half, Deebo Samuel returned the kick 50 yards, and the Commanders started at the Green Bay 44-yard line. Late in the third quarter, Washington began another drive right at midfield, which resulted in a touchdown.

Through a combination of penalties and lengthy returns allowed, Washington started with tremendous field position on numerous occasions. They’re obliged to the defense for bailing them out several times.

The lengthy returns weren't a huge issue last year, outside of a dagger against the Chicago Bears in Week 18, and they weren't a problem in Week 1 either. The penalties do seem to pop up more frequently on special teams for the Packers, often at inopportune times — although when is there an opportune time for a penalty on special teams?

Oh, and let's not forget the opening play of the season in Week 1, when rookie Savion Williams had an electric return nearing midfield that was wiped off the board due to a hold against Green Bay.

This isn’t new. The Packers led the league in special teams penalties in 2023, and the issue persisted in 2024. It's worth keeping tabs on as the season unfolds.

McManus will be fine, but the starting field position game is a week-by-week concern.

The penalties are likely to continue being a problem. However, that would undoubtedly be something for the once-vaunted Rich Bisaccia to work on, and the ever-existing void at punt returner also remains an uncertainty. At this point, having someone back there who can either signal for a fair catch every time or read and react to a punt that will likely bounce in the end zone would be acceptable.