The Green Bay Packers stunned fans once again by releasing kicker Lucas Havrisik only hours after their 27–18 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals
, marking what could be the shortest active contract in franchise history.
Havrisik was signed on October 11 as a last-minute replacement for Brandon McManus, who was sidelined with a right quadriceps injury suffered in practice on October 8. Head coach
Matt LaFleur called the injury “a major concern,” and McManus did not practice or suit up for Sunday’s game.
Despite joining the team less than 24 hours before kickoff, Havrisik made an immediate impact
, nailing a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter to give Green Bay an early 3–0 lead. The kick marked his first in an NFL game since his stint with the
Los Angeles Rams in 2023.
After the win, however, Green Bay made the cold business decision to release Havrisik, clearing roster space as McManus showed signs of recovery.
LaFleur addressed the move in his postgame remarks:
“Lucas came in and did his job — exactly what we asked. But this league moves fast. When Brandon’s ready, we have to make space elsewhere. It’s not personal, just part of how the NFL works.”
The decision drew mixed reactions from fans and analysts, with many pointing out that Havrisik’s contract lasted barely 36 hours — from signing on Saturday to being cut late Sunday night.
The former UFL standout, who led the league in field goals made (22/25) with the Dallas Renegades earlier this year, remains a free agent and could quickly draw interest from other NFL teams in need of a reliable leg.
For Green Bay, the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum after improving to 3–2 behind Jordan Love’s efficient performance (19-of-27, 238 yards, 2 TDs) and a defense that held Joe Burrow
and the Bengals to just 9 points through three quarters.
As one insider from PackersWire summed it up on X:
“Only in Green Bay can you go from hero to unemployed in less than a day. Lucas Havrisik — one kick, one point, one story for the record books.”
Havrisik’s short-lived Packers stint will be remembered not for what went wrong, but for how quickly the NFL’s business side can turn a victory into a goodbye.
