Green Bay rookie kicker Trey Smack is already making his case to be the Packers’ franchise guy, having connected on 11 of his 16 field goal attempts through just seven games this season. This dude’s got some serious leg, too, with two of those kicks coming from 58 and 59 yards out. Think about that for a second. He’s already posted two double-digit fantasy scoring performances, finishing top-10 at the position in both Week 1 and Week 6. And with Carolina’s defense sputtering this season, Smack is lining up for another stellar fantasy night and is the only real “start candidacy” for rookies on the Thursday Night Football slate.
Packers Receiver Corps Battered, Giving Rookies a Shot
It’s Week 8 and injuries are already piling up for both the Panthers and Packers, and it’s even hitting some of these first-year players. The Packers’ receiving corps is particularly dinged up heading into tonight’s clash. Skyy Moore and Jayden Reed are already on Injured Reserve, and it looks like Matthew Golden, who’s been a WR9 in fantasy, might miss his first game of the season. This kind of chaos could thrust rookie wideout J. Michael Sturdivant into a much larger role and potentially significant volume in the passing game. He’s been stepping up as one of the team’s leading kick returners recently, and he’s got 3 catches for 22 yards on 4 targets this season. Look, a true breakout from a rookie is probably unlikely in this specific matchup, but Sturdivant could definitely see enough action to make some noise.
Tough Luck for Panthers Rookie Chris Brazzell II
On the other side of the ball, the Panthers are also dealing with some tough rookie injury news. Chris Brazzell II, a highly touted third-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft, was expected to take on a notable role in Carolina’s passing attack. But man, talk about a brutal break: a season-ending LCL tear in his left knee sidelined Brazzell for his entire rookie campaign before it even started. He won’t be making his debut until next season. For now, Carolina’s passing game will keep leaning on its star wideouts, Tetarioa McMillan and Jalen Coker. It’s a bummer for Brazzell, but it just shows you how quickly fortunes can change for these young guys. Keep an eye on Smack and Sturdivant tonight to see if they can capitalize on their opportunities.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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