The Green Bay Packers have continued their midseason roster juggling with a surprising move: they’ve reunited with kicker Lucas Havrisik — just a few days after waiving him to make room at another position. This time, however, Havrisik returns on a practice squad deal rather than to the 53-man roster.
According to reports, the Packers re-signed Havrisik to their practice squad on November 28. Two days earlier, on November 26, the team had waived him as part of a corresponding move to promote wide receiver Will Sheppard from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Ironically, Sheppard didn’t end up playing a single offensive or special teams snap against the Lions. He was essentially an insurance policy in a banged-up receiver room, with Jayden Reed on injured reserve and fellow wideouts Matthew Golden and Savion Williams both sidelined by injuries. Once that emergency passed, the Packers quickly brought Havrisik back to avoid losing him to another team.
From Havrisik’s perspective, his body of work in Green Bay is far from poor. He has converted all four of his field goal attempts this season, including a 61-yarder that set a new franchise record in a game against the Arizona Cardinals. However, his most recent outing raised concerns for the coaching staff, as he missed two PATs against the New York Giants — re-igniting questions about his consistency as a backup kicker.
The fact that the Packers only added Havrisik to the practice squad (instead of the 53-man roster) makes their intentions clear: Brandon McManus is still the unquestioned No. 1 kicker. Even though he’s been battling a quad injury and hasn’t quite matched last year’s form, McManus remains the trusted starter after signing a three-year deal with the team. Havrisik, in turn, becomes a “premium insurance policy” — a ready-made replacement if McManus suffers a setback or his performance dips sharply.
Beyond the kicker situation, this move is also tied to the Packers’ broader roster picture. Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt is expected to land on injured reserve after sustaining a serious ankle injury, which should free up a spot on the 53-man roster when Jayden Reed returns from IR. If Golden and Williams are back healthy following the mini-bye leading into the December 7 clash with the Chicago Bears, Will Sheppard will likely be sent back to the practice squad — forcing the Packers to reconsider how they allocate those limited practice squad spots between Havrisik and other positions.
In short, this “break up and reunite within 48 hours” saga with Lucas Havrisik shows how Green Bay is trying to squeeze every bit of depth out of its roster in the midst of mounting injuries, while still keeping control of a kicker they believe has upside. McManus remains the primary leg for now, but Havrisik’s presence on the practice squad is a clear reminder that the Packers don’t want to be caught off guard if they suddenly need a replacement — and it’s also a perfect snapshot of how brutal life in the NFL can be: one day you’re waived, and just a few days later, you’re right back in the building.
