Ex-Michigan football K James Turner lands with Green Bay Packers after Detroit Lions cut

Jake Bates’ gain is, also, James Turner’s gain.

After the Detroit Lions signed Bates, the kicking star of the UFL’s Michigan Panthers this spring, they placed Turner, the Saline native who spent last season winning a national championship with Michigan football, on waivers.

Turner then was claimed Monday by the Green Bay Packers, the team announced.

A second-team All-Big Ten pick last season for the Wolverines, Turner connected on 85.7% of his field goal attempts (18-for-21) and 98.5% of his extra-point attempts.

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Before transferring to Michigan, Turner spent four seasons at Louisville. With the Cardinals, he connected on 79.7% (47-for-59) of his field goal attempts ad 98.4% (124-for-126) of his extra-point tries, culminating in a third-team All-ACC nod in 2022.

Signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent, Turner competed with Michael Badgley in minicamp before the Lions brought in Bates, who hit three of his five 60-yard attempts with the Panthers this spring. Turner showed a strong and accurate leg with the Lions, but lacked refinement on kickoffs.

The Packers relied on Anders Carlson to kick last season; the 2023 sixth-round pick (out of Auburn) made 27 of 33 field goal attempts, but just seven of 13 from 40 yards or more. He also missed five of his 39 extra-point attempts.

Contact Ryan Ford atrford@freepress.com. Follow him on X (which used to be Twitter, y’know?)@theford.