GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers have once again struggled to find a reliable young kicker, marking the second consecutive year of disappointment.

After rookie Brayden Narveson missed his fifth field goal in six games, the Packers have decided to pivot, signing veteran Brandon McManus, who last played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A source confirmed to ESPN that McManus has inked a one-year deal with the team.

While the Packers have yet to officially announce this move, it’s likely that McManus participated in a workout on Tuesday, prompting the team’s decision to sign him. Given the circumstances, it’s expected that Narveson will be released on Wednesday, as the Packers are unlikely to keep two kickers on their roster.

The team is not anticipated to make changes regarding practice squad kicker Alex Hale, suggesting that Narveson won’t return to the practice squad. Once released, he will be subject to waivers and could become a free agent if he clears them.

This signing has garnered attention not only because the Packers are moving on from Narveson but also due to McManus’s recent legal troubles. He became available after the NFL concluded on September 30 that he did not violate the personal conduct policy in relation to a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault during a flight to London last year while with the Jaguars.

The lawsuit, filed by anonymous plaintiffs, alleges that McManus engaged in inappropriate behavior during the Jaguars’ flight on September 28, 2023. McManus’s attorney has labeled the suit a “shakedown,” asserting that McManus never met the two women involved. Following a judge’s ruling, an amended complaint was filed in early September revealing the women’s identities.

General manager Brian Gutekunst has typically shied away from signing players with any questionable backgrounds, even those cleared of wrongdoing. For instance, he opted against signing punter Matt Araiza last year despite Araiza leaving a party where a sexual assault occurred.

Entering his 11th NFL season, McManus has spent most of his career with the Denver Broncos. Last year, he successfully converted 30 of 37 field goals with the Jaguars, including 25 of 27 attempts from inside 50 yards.

After becoming a free agent, the Jaguars chose not to re-sign McManus, who briefly signed with the Washington Commanders in March. However, he was released in June amid the allegations.

Over his career, McManus has achieved an 81.4% success rate on field goals (253 of 311) and a 97.2% success rate on extra points (312 of 321).

(This story was updated to reflect new information.)