It was supposed to be a moment of redemption. With the Packers trailing 7–16 late in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brandon McManus lined up for what looked like a routine field goal — one that could shift the game’s momentum back toward Green Bay. Instead, the veteran kicker pushed it wide right. The stadium went silent for a split second before the boos began to pour down from the stands. In a matchup where every possession mattered, McManus’s miss felt heavier than just three lost points — it was the kind of moment that can alter a career.
McManus’s story this season has already been turbulent. After recovering from a minor groin injury that sidelined him for part of the preseason, he fought hard to reclaim his spot on the active roster. Meanwhile, Lucas Havrisik, who showed promise during training camp, was relegated to the practice squad. The Packers chose experience over youth — a decision now under the microscope after Sunday’s heartbreaking misfire.
If Havrisik were to step in, it would bring an entirely different dynamic to Green Bay’s special teams. Known for his raw leg strength and calm under pressure, the young kicker impressed coaches earlier this year with consistent accuracy from beyond 50 yards. Sources inside the organization have said he’s “game-ready” and eager for another opportunity. With the team struggling to convert drives into points, inserting Havrisik might not just be a symbolic move — it could be a spark the Packers desperately need.
Fans, of course, have already made their opinions clear. Within minutes of the missed kick, “Bring Me Havrisik” was trending across social media. Some called McManus’s performance “unforgivable,” while others sympathized with a veteran seemingly running out of second chances. As Green Bay prepares for the second half of the season, one question echoes louder than any Lambeau roar: Is it time for the Packers to move on — or can McManus still silence the noise?
