Green Bay Packers claim former Oklahoma Sooners kicker Gabe Brkic off waivers, release Dominik Eberle

The Green Bay Packers have claimed former Oklahoma kicker Gabe Brkic off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL insider Field Yates. The Packers also released kicker Dominik Eberle.

Brkic was one of only three finalists for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to college football’s best kicker, this past season. In the opener against Tulane, he tied an FBS record by hitting three field goals of 50 yards or longer. He ultimately ended the year 20-for-26 on his field goal attempts, with his longest make coming from 56 yards out.

Brkic did not hear his name called at the 2022 NFL Draft in April, but later joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent. However, it appears he was unable to do enough to beat out Greg Joseph for the top spot on the depth chart.

Now Gabe Brkic will look to make an impact on the Packers roster, which already features veteran Mason Crosby. But according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Crosby did not kick and was in the injury rehab group at practice this past week. If health ultimately proves an issue for the 37-year-old in his 16th NFL season, Brkic could find himself called upon.

Brkic joined the Oklahoma roster in 2018, appearing in only one contest to preserve his redshirt. He followed that up by going a perfect 17-for-17 on field goal attempts the next season, while also nailing all 52 of his PATs, making him the only kicker in all of college football that season to make all of his kicks. He was named a member of the Freshman All-American team, officially marking his arrival on the map.

Brkic continued to impress over the next two years, and ends his career 57-for-69 (82.6%) on his field goal attempts. Throughout 38 games, he has missed only one PAT in 160 tries. It’s that kind of accuracy that the Packers hope carries over into his rookie season in the NFL.