Packer Central

Crosby Relishes Punt, Gives Boot to Miss Field Goal

“What better time than in Year 15 to get my first rep in a game?” Mason Crosby said after punting vs. Buffalo.
Bill Huber|
Crosby Relishes Punt, Gives Boot to Miss Field Goal
Crosby Relishes Punt, Gives Boot to Miss Field Goal

GREEN BAY, Wis. – As a senior at Georgetown (Texas) High School, Mason Crosby was a first-team all-district selection as a kicker, punter and safety.

Crosby, of course, went on to find fame at kicker. At Colorado, he had as many 60-yard field goals (one as a sophomore) as punts (one as a senior). In 14 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, he’s made 345 field goals, collected 26 tackles and never punted.

That changed – sort of – in Saturday’s preseason game at Buffalo. With punter JK Scott dealing with cramps, Crosby punted in a game for the first time since his college days.

“It’s always been in my back pocket,” Crosby told Packers.com’s Larry McCarren after the game. “I’ve always been the backup. What better time than in Year 15 to get my first rep in a game?”

Crosby’s punt went 41 yards. Unofficially, he had 4.03 seconds of hang time. That allowed decent coverage and produced a net punt of 34 yards.

“When I caught it, laces were straight down so I was focused on the ball, turning it and trying to make good contact,” Crosby said. “I think officially I got over 4-second hang, so that’s a win. Coverage was awesome (and) I think we had great protection, so that’s all I can ask for. It’s a different vantage point back there. It was kind of fun in a preseason game to get out and be able to do something outside the normal job and, honestly, go out there and have a little fun.”

While Crosby might remember his first NFL punt forever, he’ll quickly forget about the 28-yard field goal he missed just before halftime. He called it a “little glitch in the system” after making all 20 field-goal attempts (including playoffs) last season. Inside of 30 yards, he’s 103-for-105 in regular-season play. His last miss from that distance came in 2011. Since then, he’s a perfect 63-for-63.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen one not go through in a game,” he said. “I can’t remember one that close that I missed in a long time. Getting that out of the system in the preseason, in my mind, I’ll spin it in a good way and make sure that we lock in and get prepared for New Orleans.”

Aaron Rodgers through passes during pregame but didn't play in the preseason.

Jordan Love surveys the defense while Ed Oliver charges through the line.

Jordan Love launches one off his back foot for an ill-advised interception.

Micah Hyde picks off a pass intended for Malik Taylor.

Kurt Benkert went 7-of-11 passing for 61 yards vs. Buffalo.

Rookie running back Kylin Hill hurdles a defender.

With Jordan Love at quarterback, coach Matt LaFleur left the play-calling to Luke Getsy.

Malik Taylor makes a leaping catch for a key first down.

Here's another angle of Taylor's catch.

Amari Rodgers wards off a defender for extra yards.

Amari Rodgers tried to make a diving catch.

Amari Rodgers caught six passes for 41 yards.

Rookie linebacker Isaiah McDuffie had a team-leading nine tackles.

A pass to Jace Sternberger was broken up.

New cornerback Stephen Denmark breaks up a pass intended for tight end Jacob Hollister.

Shemar Jean-Charles and Christian Uphoff are too late to prevent a touchdown run by Jake Fromm.

Innis Gaines (38) and Rojesterman Farris prevent this catch by Jake Kumerow.

Kylin Hill blasts through a hole vs. Buffalo.

Reggie Begelton caught four passes for 51 yards, with 30 yards coming after the catch.

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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.

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