After missing one-too-many kicks last season, the Green Bay Packers are releasing a veteran kicker in favor for a rookie they just selected.
The Packers are cutting kicker Brandon McManus just one season after signing him to a three-year deal worth $15.5million.
This comes after McManus missed both of his field goal attempts and an extra-point attempt in the Packers' NFC Wild Card loss to the rival Chicago Bears.
Across the season, McManus went 24-of-30 on field goals and missed a single extra point in 33 tries.
But his role in the 31-27 playoff defeat to Chicago was a tragic outing that was too poor to ignore.
McManus missed a 55-yard field goal in the first half of the contest as the Packers led their NFC North rivals 21-3.
After Green Bay scored a touchdown to extend their lead to 27-16 with 6:36 remaining, McManus missed an extra point.
The Packers have released kicker Brandon McManus a year after signing a three-year contract
McManus' cut comes after he missed a pair of field goals and an extra point to end his season
This paves way for the Packers' recently-drafted kicker Trey Smack to take the starting role
Chicago clawed their way back into the game to make it a 27-24 contest that McManus could've made tougher on the Bears.
But he missed a 44-yard field goal attempt to give the ball back to Chicago.
The Bears scored a touchdown on the next possession to take a 31-27 lead that resulted in their first playoff win since 2010 and their first playoff victory over the Packers since 1941.
With McManus now off the team, the Packers will be turning to University of Florida kicker Trey Smack - who the franchise picked in the sixth-round of the NFL Draft.
Smack went 53-of-64 in his college career while hitting 10 of his 13 kicks from 50 yards or longer.
McManus previously spent time with the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars before signing with Green Bay in 2024.