Packers sign Kicker and Tight End to practice squad: What to Know
By Paul Bretl
GM Brian Gutekunst continues to churn the bottom of the Green Bay Packers roster, this time making two practice squad additions on Tuesday. One was signing kicker Matt Ammendola, and the other was tight end Austin Allen.
Ramiz Ahmed has been on the Packers practice squad for the entire season. However, after suffering a groin injury in warmups prior to Sunday’s game against Minnesota after being elevated from the practice squad, Green Bay is now in need of a new backup option at kicker.
Ammendola was a 2021 undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State and appeared in 11 games that season with the New York Jets. He’s also spent time this season with Kansas City and Arizona. For his short career, he is 19 for 22 on extra points and 18 for 26 on field goal attempts, including 0 for 3 from 50-plus yards.
Mason Crosby is obviously going to be handling field goal duties barring any injury, but where Ammendola could make an impact for the Packers is on kickoffs. As already mentioned, Ahmed was elevated to handle kickoffs on Sunday, in large part because of Vikings’ return man Kene Nwangwu’s ability to generate big plays and Crosby struggling to consistently get the ball to the end zone–although he had a terrific game against Minnesota.
Prior to the matchup with the Vikings, Crosby’s 50 kick return attempts by opponents was the most in football by a decent margin of seven. His return rate of almost 81% was the second-most. Ammendola, meanwhile, had a return rate in 11 games with the Jets last season of 37%, and his average hang time on kickoffs was the sixth best that season as well, according to PFF ($$).
Tight end Austin Allen went undrafted in the 2022 draft after spending his college career at Nebraska. Allen stands nearly 6’8″ tall and weighs 253 pounds. He posted a “great” Relative Athletic Score of 8.08 out of 10 during the pre-draft process.
For his collegiate career, Allen caught 73% of his 89 targets while averaging an impressive 15.0 yards per catch along with three touchdowns. Of his total snaps, 33% would come from the slot, and he finished the 2021 season ranked 35th in run-blocking grade by PFF. Of his 1,564 career snaps, 853 came as a run-blocker.
For more on Allen’s game, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say about him in his pre-draft scouting report:
"“Sky-scraping tight end with in-line potential if he can continue filling out his frame with additional muscle. Despite his tall center of gravity, Allen will flash as both a down blocker and as an athletic, moving shield when blocking in space. His release and route running are heavy and plodding; he’s unlikely to beat man coverage on the next level without scheme help. He is willing and able to catch the ball in traffic and his height gives him a theoretical advantage on jump-ball throws. Allen appears to have football in his future, but his level of success could be determined by whether or not he can develop into a true “Y” as a pro.”"
With the addition of Allen, the Packers have four tight ends on the 53-man and two on the practice squad. Looking ahead to the upcoming offseason, tight end is going to be a major need with only Josiah Deguara under contract beyond 2022.