Packers release international K Alex Hale after suffering eye injury
And now we know why.
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Hale suffered an eye injury while working out before training camp and needs to miss multiple weeks. However, the Packers need a backup kicker to ease the training camp burden on veteran Brandon McManus, so an addition at kicker is expected.
The Packers originally signed Hale, a native of Australia, on Aug. 7 of last year. He was released at the end of training camp but returned on the practice squad as the International Player Pathway designation.
Hale spent six seasons at Oklahoma State (2018-23) and was a second-team All-Big 12 pick and Lou Groza Award semifinalist after making 27 of 34 field goals in 2023, his final collegiate season.
As the Packers' IPP player, Hale counted as the team's 91st player on the offseason roster. Silverstein believes it's possible Hale could eventually return pending the performance of the kicker signed to back up McManus to start training camp. If re-signed, Hale could once again be the 17th player on the Packers' practice squad as an IPP designation.
Hale was the Packers' second IPP player, following defensive end Kenneth Odumegwu.
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