On Thursday, Gutekunst said he evaluated kicking options down the stretch and determined Carlson remained the “best option” for the Packers.
“We obviously work kickers out all the time,” Gutekunst said, “but as we went through the course of the season, we were kind of committed to going through the ups and downs that a lot of young rookie kickers go through. Certainly, what he went through was not anything different than what a lot of guys do.
“I think as we got towards the end of the season and we were headed towards the playoffs and had an opportunity to be in the playoffs, certainly something that if there was a veteran option out there that would have been really good, then maybe we would have considered it. But there wasn’t. He was the best option, by far.
“We’re really excited by where he’s going.”
In the NFC divisional round on Jan. 20, Carlson missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt with 6:18 to play against the San Francisco 49ers, leaving the Packers’ lead at 21-17.
The 49ers responded with a 12-play, 69-yard drive capped by running back Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 67 seconds to play. San Francisco took a 24-21 lead instead of tying the game
“There was still some time, so we were hoping to get another kick,” Carlson said in the locker room after the game. “Obviously, it didn’t pan out like the way we wanted it to. But after each kick, just staying ready for the next one. It’s tough that there wasn’t another one.”
An interception with 34 seconds left sealed San Francisco’s victory and advanced the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game, where they defeated the Detroit Lions 34-31 on Sunday to advance to Super Bowl LVIII.
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