In the hushed moments after the final whistle at Green Bay Packers’ 35-25 victory on Sunday night, head coach Matt LaFleur strode before the microphones with an open face—a mixture of relief and realism. He addressed two of the most pressing questions from a game that will be remembered for more than its final score: the costly misses from veteran kicker Brandon McManus, and the decision to bench high-priced cornerback Nate Hobbs. Both moves exposed raw nerves in a roster fighting for identity, and LaFleur didn’t hide from the unease.

McManus’ misses: injury or just bad luck?

McManus, who sat out a game before this one due to a quad injury, hooked a 57-yard attempt and then missed a 44-yard try just before halftime. The former long-range weapon had suddenly become a liability in a stadium buzzing with expectation. And while the injury loomed large in the pre-game conversation, LaFleur insisted that the issue wasn’t necessarily the leg—it was simply what happens when a kicker misses.

“Kickers miss kicks. That’s what I can tell you,” LaFleur said. Acme Packing Company+2Yahoo Thể Thao+2
He added that the 57-yard try came on a fourth-and-10 from the 39-yard line—“on the edge of his range,” LaFleur admitted—but maintained that the decision to go for it was made with full conviction.

Behind the scenes, however, the narrative was murkier. Earlier in October, LaFleur had called McManus’ quad injury a “major concern” after it was revealed the kicker injured himself in practice, not in the game. Reuters+1 That description—typically reserved for starting QBs or dominant edge rushers—was surprising in its bluntness. It signalled that the organization was bracing for something more than just a bad day.

McManus, meanwhile, played down the drama during his own media interactions. He joked about LaFleur’s phrasing (“I think he has his own thesaurus,” he said) and affirmed he was planning to play. Reddit The disconnect between coach and kicker opened a window into the tension: is this about health, or is it about performance?

From a statistical standpoint, the numbers don’t lie. McManus is now just 2-of-6 on field goals of 40 yards or more this season. Acme Packing Company+1 That drop in efficiency matters in a division as tight as the NFC North when every edge can swing a game.

Adding to the urgency: his absence would place the Packers’ special teams into unfamiliar territory. Their backup plan was a kicker who hadn’t yet played in the regular season. If McManus’ leg was truly untrustworthy, the overall risk to the roster doubled.

Hobbs benched: accountability meets roster strategy

If McManus’ situation screamed “needing to hold on,” the benching of Hobbs whispered “must change.” Signed this offseason to a hefty contract, the cornerback had been viewed as a cornerstone of the defense’s reinvention. But when coach LaFleur stood up on Monday and said the starting outside CB job was now in the hands of Carrington Valentine, the optics were loud.

LaFleur explained the decision simply: performance in practice made the call clear. Valentine, he said, gave up just 29 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers—earning respect from teammates and coach alike. Meanwhile, Hobbs had allowed 63 yards per game over his last three starts and had missed time due to injury (early in Week 4, against the Dallas Cowboys). Acme Packing Company+1

From the perspective of fans and analysts, the benching shook faith. How does a team invest heavily in a cornerback only to demote him? One reader asked, “Do we trust the top end of this defense if the guy we paid $48 million can’t hold his job?” packersnews.com

LaFleur tried to manage expectations. He said this is still a competition, and that Hobbs may have a slot role or “sub-package” opportunities alongside second-round pick Javon Bullard, who has had early struggles. Acme Packing Company But the decision raised broader questions about roster construction and whether the Packers are truly moving faster toward contention—or simply spinning their wheels.

Fan reaction: hope, concern and search for stability

On social media, the response was immediate. Packers fans who had braved tailgates, accepted the building-from-scratch narrative, and believed in the new regime now paused. “If our kicker can’t be trusted and our expensive corner can’t play, what’s the ceiling of this defense?” one fan wrote.

Local analysts framed the McManus misses as more than just flawed kicks—they were moments when momentum slipped. The 57-yard kick that failed to extend a drive left the Steelers in excellent field position, leading to a Chris Boswell field goal two drives later. Acme Packing Company Many fans pointed to it as the “hinge” moment of the game.

On the defense side, Valentine’s emergence sparked optimism: a young player stepping into the spotlight, playing with confidence. But the broader look at the cornerback depth chart remains stark. With rookie pick Micah Robinson lost to the Tennessee Titans via claim and other backups yet to see a defensive snap, the margin for error vanishes. Acme Packing Company+1

Context and timeline: how did we get here?

The kicking issue has been creeping for weeks. McManus injured his quad during a limited practice on a Wednesday in early October—not on a game kick, not on a special teams unit. SI+1 LaFleur initially masked the severity, but later declared it a major concern. Contingency plans were quietly activated. Reuters+1

By Week 8, McManus returned but looked off. The rust, perhaps self-inflicted, perhaps just bad luck, showed up on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, the benching of Hobbs didn’t come out of nowhere. The corner had been having an internal battle with consistency, injuries, and high expectations. The team’s decision to bench him was strategic—but also symbolic: accountability is real in this locker room.

LaFleur’s framing matters. He didn’t sugarcoat the kicker’s issue, and he didn’t pretend the cornerback move was painless. What he did do was place both decisions in the realm of competition and standards. For McManus: you’re still on call. For Hobbs: earn it.

This is significant because the Packers are navigating a transitional season. With Jordan Love increasingly the face of the franchise, and a youth-movement defense taking shape, management and coaching appear to accept some turbulence. But turbulence without control becomes chaos. That’s the danger.

The human angle: faces behind the uniforms

For McManus, the narrative is personal as well as professional. At age 34, he’s fought for every kick, embraced the pressure, and in some moments looked like a rock in the special-teams unit. The injury and recent misses threaten that identity. One can picture him in his locker, gloves off, staring at the turf of Acrisure Stadium, replaying the 57-yard attempt in mind. The look in his eyes is likely one of frustration—and resolve.

For Hobbs, the journey has been more headline-laden. Coming into Green Bay with a substantial contract and expectations of stepping into an elite tier, he now sits on the pine. The benching is a reflection not just of his play, but of the stakes. It forces a moment of introspection: Did the weight of expectation stifle the performance? Did the system ask too much, too soon?

And for LaFleur and the organization, the stakes are collective. One mis-field-goal and one bend-but-don’t-break coverage can tilt a season’s arc. So the coaching staff has to juggle empathy and urgency, hope and demand. The locker-room will listen—because no matter how many X’s and O’s, the tone is set from the top.

Looking ahead: what matters now

As the Packers move forward, the road is clear but narrow. Kicker depth must be resolved—not just by hope, but by performance and backup readiness. The kicking game is no longer an automatic win assumption. Meanwhile, the defensive backfield must hold up under pressure. Valentine’s emergence is encouraging, but that alone can’t bear the weight of a post-season run.

McManus will get the chance to reset. The text messages from teammates, the furtive glances during warmups, the fans’ collective gasps in the stands—all of it will motivate him. If one thing defines veteran athletes, it’s the ability to rebound.

Hobbs, too, has a chance—but it’s shrinking. If the “slot role” talk becomes the sanctioned version of demotion, he must still accept it, adapt, and perform. Because in this locker room, the next chance may not be given—it may need to be earned in a rush.

And for the Packers’ fans, the theme is familiar: hope cautiously held. They trust Jordan Love and believe the youth movement has legs. But hope alone doesn’t win in the NFL; execution does. Whether it’s a 44-yard field goal or a deep post from a corner, the team must deliver.