The Green Bay Packers evened their record at 1-1 after two games by accomplishing one of the more difficult tasks in pro football: winning a game with an inexperienced backup quarterback. Malik Willis started for Jordan Love and was protected by the plan but efficient overall, and the Packers used a dynamic rushing performance and disruptive defensive effort to create a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Complementary football got the job done. Instead of starting 0-2, the Packers showed their mettle by rallying around Willis, who arrived in Green Bay just 19 days before starting on Sunday.
Here are the stars, studs and duds from the Packers’ Week 2 win over the Colts:
Stars
RB Josh Jacobs: His fumble near the goal line was a big-time mistake that prevented the Packers from taking a commanding 17-0 lead early, but it’s hard to ignore what Jacobs accomplished over his 31 other carries. On a hot, humid day, and with the Packers starting an inexperienced backup quarterback, Jacobs carried the load. He consistently forced missed tackles and created yards after contact against loaded boxes. Jacobs finished with four runs of 10 or more yards and two of 15 or more. Eight of his carries gained first downs. Quite unfortunately, he was twice denied a first Lambeau Leap — the first on a touchdown called back by penalty, and the second on the fumble as he was about to cross the goal line. More importantly, Jacobs ran hard and showcased his signature burst. He’s all the way back.
RB Eric Wilson: Over just eight defensive snaps, Wilson produced a forced fumble in pursuit, an assisted run stop on a 3rd-and-1 option play setting up a missed 50-yard field goal and an interception of Anthony Richardson as a hook defender with the Colts driving for points. Oh, and Wilson led the team with 17 special teams snaps.
Studs
TE Tucker Kraft: The second-year tight end caught two passes for 16 yards and had a big-play on a tight end screen negated via penalty. But once again, Kraft lands here because of his excellent work in the run game. He craves contact, and the tape makes it clear how much he loves hunting down second-level defenders as a move blocker. Time and time again, Matt LaFleur put him on the move to provide the key block for the Packers’ complex run game on Sunday, and Kraft delivered. One could count at least a half dozen key blocks from Kraft on successful run plays. He is a perfect tight end for this offense.
WR Romeo Doubs: He led the Packers in routes run, catches and receiving yards. On one third down, Doubs ran a crisp out-breaking route and was wide open for Malik Willis, creating an easy conversion. Later, he skied for Willis’ underthrown deep ball and made the contested catch for 39 yards on 3rd-and-5, moving the sticks again on a scoring drive. Doubs also delivered a block out in front of Dontayvion Wicks on the 14-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
QB Malik Willis: Matt LaFleur gave Willis a game ball in the victorious post-game locker room, and for good reason. Not only did Willis get the Packers in and out of the huddle without issue, but he operated a complex run game and made a handful of big plays on third down without putting the ball in danger. Willis completed 12 of 14 passes, didn’t take a sack and converted six third downs with completions or scrambles. This was close to a perfect performance from an inexperienced quarterback with less than three weeks in the scheme.
WR Dontayvion Wicks: He beat Kenny Moore, a terrific slot corner, for a 14-yard touchdown in the first half, and his out-reached catch of another throw from Malik Willis converted a third down in the second half. Wicks ran only nine routes but saw four targets because he’s so consistently open and reliable.
DL Devonte Wyatt: He stuffed Jonathan Taylor for a loss, sacked Anthony Richardson with a shoestring tackle to help end a drive and finished the game with a team-high four pressures. Wyatt’s interior pressure across 19 pass-rushing snaps was a big reason why Richardson never looked completely comfortable in the pocket.
P Daniel Whelan: Three punts, three inside the 20-yard line. Whelan pinned the Colts at the 8-yard line on his first punt, flipped the field with a 59-yarder inside the 20-yard line on his second punt and then made sure the Colts had the entire length of the field to traverse with a punt that pinned Indianapolis at the 5-yard line before the final drive in the fourth quarter. Whelan has now placed four of his first five punts inside the 20-yard line this season.
LG Elgton Jenkins: He’s looking like pre-ACL injury Elgton Jenkins. The Packers left guard pitched another shutout in pass pro and was excellent in the run game.
Duds
LB Quay Walker: One positive first — Walker’s pressure as a blitzer on Anthony Richardson helped created Xavier McKinney’s interception in the first half. But it was a rough performance overall from Walker. He misplayed a few gaps in the run game, creating chunk gains, and he also missed two tackles and dropped what would have been a game-sealing interception. Even in Year 3, Walker’s sideline to sideline speed hasn’t been impactful. The down to down consistency appears to be lacking.
DE Kingsley Enagbare: He played 31 snaps but accomplished little, especially as a pass-rusher. Zero pressures. One tackle. It’s fair to wonder if Enagbare’s knee injury from January is hindering him in some way to start the season. He’s been on the field for 38 pass-rushing snaps and doesn’t have a pressure. Late in the game Sunday, Quentin Nelson put him on the ground with a block during an Anthony Richardson scramble drill.