Packers sign P Cody Mandell

Tim Masthay could be facing some competition for the Green Bay Packers' punting job this offseason.

The Packers signed former Alabama punter Cody Mandell on Monday. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound punter appeared in 52 games for the Crimson Tide after joining the team as a walk-on in 2010.

As a senior, he was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference by The Associated Press and was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award and Burlsworth Trophy. For his career, Mandell averaged 42.6 yards per punt and landed 58 punts inside the 20-yard line.

Mandell, who'll wear No. 9, spent part of the 2014 offseason as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. The 22-year-old punted three times in Dallas' preseason opener against San Diego for a 43.7-yard average and 42.0 net. All three were placed inside the 20-yard line.

Masthay hasn't faced any competition since winning the punting job in 2010, but struggled during the second half of the season. He finished 30th in net punting average (37.0 yards) and 32nd in punts inside the 20 (14), both career lows. His 44.1 gross average tied for 27th in the league.

The Packers used a similar tactic with struggling kicker Mason Crosby when they brought in Giorgio Tavecchio following a woeful 2012 season. Crosby bounced back with a career year and has since made 60-of-70 field goals in the regular season (85.7 percent).

Masthay, who'll turn 28 in March, has two more seasons remaining on the extension he signed in 2012. He's scheduled to make $1.1 million in 2015.

-whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.