Tag: Packers News

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 11 opponent: Packers

Here are some important things to know about the Packers ahead of the Week 11 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers travel to face the Packers on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 10:00 a.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 11 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

Not much to Love about Jordan

Jordan Love’s first year as the Packers starting quarterback hasn’t been anything special. Through Week 10, he’s completed just 58.7% of his passes for an average of 6.7 yards per attempt and has 14 touchdowns to ten interceptions. Love will throw a nice pass to the intermediate-deep part of the field here and there, but he’s often careless with the football.

Below-average rushing offense

The Packers rank 21st in run offense, averaging 102.1 yards per game. Their lead back Aaron Jones has struggled with injuries this season but when he’s been on the field, he hasn’t produced. Jones is a game removed from a 2.7-yard per carry performance against the Steelers and he has yet to surpass 75 yards rushing yards in a game this season. On the other hand, Jones’ right-hand man, AJ Dillon, has picked up some of the slack, as he recently rushed nine times for 70 yards with a career-long carry of 40 yards. Dillon has averaged over 4.0 yards per carry in three of his last four games.

Young group of pass catchers

The Packers don’t have a bonafide No. 1 wide receiver, but they’re a very diverse group. Rookie Jayden Reed leads the crop with 417 receiving yards. Behind him is Romeo Doubs with 343 yards. Doubs leads the wideouts with six touchdowns. Christian Watson, who was expected to be a premier weapon, has dealt with injuries. While he’s limited, Watson has still been a reliable downfield threat. He is averaging a team-high 16.9 yards per catch.

Pretty good against the pass

The Packers’ strong suit on defense is at defending the pass. They rank seventh in the NFL, only allowing an average of 187.6 yards per game. Up front, they have some prolific pass rushers, led by Rashan Gary, who has 34 pressures and five sacks. Preston Smith and Kenny Clark also have five sacks. In the back end, they have a crop of solid coverage defenders.

Look out for…

Luke Musgrave. The rookie tight end has been a go-to target for Love. Musgrave ranks second on the team in receptions (29) and big plays (plays of over 20 yards) with five and third in yards (313).

Statistical Breakdown: How the Chargers and Packers stack up before Week 11 game

Here’s how the Chargers and Packers stack up statistically ahead of the Week 11 matchup.

The Chargers and Packers are set to square off this Sunday.

Here’s how Los Angeles and Green Bay stack up statistically ahead of the Week 11 matchup:

Don’t add Aaron Rodgers to 49ers list of QB options just yet

The Green Bay Packers lost the NFC championship game, but an Aaron Rodgers trade isn’t imminent after his solemn press conference.

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 in the NFC championship game. Rodgers is now 1-4 in five trips to the title game. His post-game press conference led to plenty of speculation about his future, and due to the nature of the 49ers’ ongoing uncertainty at quarterback, they became a topic of discussion on various internet forums Sunday night.

Here’s how it went down:

Green Bay kicked a field goal on fourth-and-goal from the Buccaneers’ 8-yard-line with 2:09 to play to cut the Bucs’ lead from 31-23 to 31-26. Rather than let Rodgers try to find the end zone and give Green Bay a chance to tie the game, they settled for a short field goal and then never saw the ball again.

Rodgers said after the game he thought the team would have four shots to score from inside the 10, but he also told Packers reporters that he understood the decision to take the three points.

The loss marked a second consecutive defeat on the precipice of the NFL’s biggest stage, and head coach Matt LaFleur took the ball out of quarterback’s hands in the biggest moment. It’s understandable Rodgers would be upset after the game, but he didn’t say he wants out. That’s why discussion of where he’ll play next year feels premature.

Here’s what he did say.

He did say “a lot of guys futures, they’re uncertain, myself included,” per the the Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.

He also said, “I’m going to have to take some time away for sure and clear my head, kind of see what’s going on with everything. But it’s pretty tough right now,” via the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood.

Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse noted Rodgers was more somber than he’s ever been, and Kruse’s instant reaction to the presser reflected Rodgers’ uncertainty about the future, although he changed his mind after letting it marinate.

While we can’t start putting Rodgers in with other potential trade targets for the 49ers, it is worth monitoring  how this loss settles in with Rodgers over the next several weeks. One loss probably isn’t enough to usher him out of the only city he’s known in his 16-year NFL career.

But, the season began with Green Bay selecting quarterback Jordan Love, Rodgers’ eventual replacement, in the first round instead of getting their quarterback some help for the 2020 campaign. It ended with the ball being taken away from Rodgers so he could watch from the sideline as their Super Bowl hopes slipped away.

It was undoubtedly a heartbreaking loss for Rodgers, who is 37-years old and running out of chances to earn his second Super Bowl ring. His somber post-game press conference probably has more to do with a crushing defeat than a desire to play for another franchise. It’s worth keeping an eye on for the 49ers, but it’s still too early to pencil him in as a candidate to play quarterback for San Francisco next season.

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Packers rookie LB Kamal Martin needs knee surgery, to miss several weeks

The Packers’ inside linebacker unit took a hit this week.

The Green Bay Packers know they need better play from their inside linebackers this season, but that position group just took a hit this week. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, rookie Kamal Martin needs knee surgery and is expected to miss several weeks as a result.

He was in the mix to be a starter at inside linebacker next to Christian Kirksey, but his rise up the depth chart has hit a snag.

This isn’t a devastating blow to the linebacker unit, but it’s certainly going to have an effect on the defense. Martin has played well in training camp and was seemingly outperforming his draft status as a fifth-round pick.

After missing a big chunk of the 2019 season at Minnesota due to a knee injury, his draft stock slid all the way to Day 3, though his talent level is more along the lines of a second- or third-round player.

Fortunately, the Packers did add Kirksey this offseason, but Martin’s absence will be felt and will require Green Bay’s other inside linebackers to step up in his place.

Fantasy football projections for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers is projected to finish as a top-10 fantasy QB in 2020.

So long as he’s healthy, Aaron Rodgers is almost a lock to finish in the top 10 among all quarterbacks in fantasy. From 2008-2012, he was either first or second each year, and has been No. 1 four times in his career.

Even in what were considered “down years” by his standards in 2018 and 2019, he was a top-10 fantasy quarterback.

That shouldn’t change this season despite Green Bay’s lack of proven receivers behind Davante Adams for Rodgers to throw to. The Huddle projects Rodgers to once again be a top-10 fantasy quarterback, laying out his predicted stat line for the upcoming season.

The site projects Rodgers to throw for 4,300 yards and 27 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Add in 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground and that gives Rodgers a total of 351 fantasy points.

HC Matt LaFleur did what no defense could – turn Aaron Rodgers into a marginal fantasy player. He ended #12 in a year when he was healthy. The new system under LaFleur is more about running the ball and the receivers are down to Davante Adams and an empty trashcan. Not only did GB opt to ignore the WR-rich draft, but they spent their first pick on Rodger’s assumed replacement. To Rodgers credit, GB has a much lighter passing schedule and Rodger’s will have a chip on his shoulder.

That puts him ninth among all quarterbacks on The Huddle’s projections, just ahead of Daniel Jones and slightly behind Carson Wentz.

Lamar Jackson is projected to lead all quarterbacks with 421 fantasy points, followed by Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott. In the NFC North, Matthew Stafford is seventh on The Huddle’s projections, with Kirk Cousins 26th and Nick Foles leading the Bears at No. 30; Mitchell Trubisky is 33rd.

Packers RB Aaron Jones makes NFLPA’s ‘Rising Stars’ list

Aaron Jones is on the verge of breaking out, according to the NFLPA.

All eyes will be on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ passing game in 2020, especially after Green Bay traded up to select Jordan Love in the first round and opted not to draft a single wide receiver. However, another Aaron shouldn’t be overlooked within the Packers offense.

Running back Aaron Jones, who rushed for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, is on the verge of breaking out as one of the best backs in the league. He’s increased his rushing numbers by at least 280 yards each year he’s been in the NFL and owns a career average of 5.0 yards per carry across three seasons.

His 16 rushing touchdowns led the league last season and in 2018, he was tops in the NFL by averaging 5.5 yards per carry. All this has led the NFLPA to include Jones on its annual “Rising Stars” list, which highlights veterans who are expected to take the next step on the field and in popularity among fans.

The other players in the top five are Nick Chubb, DK Metcalf, Marquise Brown and Deebo Samuel. Jones is the only representative from the NFC North and one of four running backs to make the list.

For reference, last year’s top five rising stars were Lamar Jackson, Phillip Lindsay, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett and Sony Michel. Jones isn’t going to replicate what Jackson did by going out and winning MVP, but he should still be in for another 1,000-yard season in Green Bay’s offense.

Matt LaFleur excited to see ex-CFL WR Reggie Begelton on the field

Reggie Begelton is a name to watch this offseason.

The Packers have a lot to sort out at wide receiver after passing on what was deemed a historically strong class at the position in the draft. They opted not to select a single one in the draft and did very little all offseason to give Aaron Rodgers help outside.

Rodgers remains optimistic about the Packers’ current group of receivers, led by Davante Adams, highlighting younger players such as Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard as wideouts he’s excited to work with again.

Coach Matt LaFleur has a different name on his mind, though. On a recent conference call with reporters, LaFleur said he’s looking forward to seeing Reggie Begelton on the field when teams can resume practicing.

“The one thing that really stands out is you can tell he is super invested,” LaFleur said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “He’s done a great job at picking up everything that we’ve thrown at him. He does a great job. We’ve been quizzing these guys quite a bit, and he is repeatedly at the top. I’ve been just super impressed with his approach and just excited to see him and see what he’s got to offer on the field.”

The Packers signed Begelton out of the CFL this offseason, giving him a chance to contribute in the NFL. He spent the last three years in the CFL and most recently caught 102 passes for 1,444 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Calgary Stampeders.

He’s a dark horse to make the 53-man roster, given the number of players Green Bay has at wide receiver already, but he’s an intriguing player to watch this offseason – whenever teams are allowed to practice again.

LaFleur is obviously basing this statement strictly on what he’s learned about Begelton during this virtual offseason, but he’s someone to keep an eye on during training camp and the preseason.

Aaron Rodgers looked up to Michael Jordan, calls him the basketball GOAT

Aaron Rodgers witnessed Michael Jordan’s last regular-season game with the Bulls live.

ESPN’s stellar 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1998 Chicago Bulls, “The Last Dance,” wrapped up with the final two episodes on Sunday night. In a time with minimal live sports and none of the four major leagues in America playing right now, fans gathered to watch this series that focused on Jordan.

Aaron Rodgers was one of those people, tuning in to “The Last Dance” from the beginning. While speaking to the media last week, he reminisced on seeing Jordan play his last regular-season game with the Bulls and his current relationship with the hoops legend.

“I have been watching. It’s been a lot of fun,” he said on a conference call recently. “I was fortunate enough in 1998 to sit in the top row at Arco Arena and watch M.J.’s last game as a Bull in the regular season against the Sacramento Kings and was always an M.J. fan since the early ’90s and loved the runs that he was on and always looked up to him.”

This 10-part series from ESPN has reignited the debate of who is the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan gets the nod from most fans, but there’s a contingent that believes LeBron James is the G.O.A.T. in the NBA.

Rodgers predictably falls on the side that favors Jordan, who won six rings with the Bulls.

“I’ve gotten to know him a little bit over the years and always enjoy our interactions and have a ton of respect for what he accomplished in the game. He’s the greatest basketball player of all time,” Rodgers said. “Really, I’d love to debate anybody on that.”

It’s not often that someone with such close ties to Green Bay would speak so highly of a Chicago sports figure, but Jordan isn’t like any other athlete. He’s in a class of his own.

Aaron Rodgers expresses confidence in Packers’ young WRs

Aaron Rodgers mentioned four of the Packers’ young receivers as reasons for optimism behind Davante Adams.

Of the 255 players selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, 35 of them were wide receivers – the second-most popular position among teams. Not a single one of them was taken by the Green Bay Packers, who many people thought needed help at wideout entering the draft.

Yet, they made their nine picks last month without adding any further depth to their receiving corps.

It was one of the bigger surprises of draft weekend, especially considering Green Bay traded up for Jordan Love in the first round. But Aaron Rodgers isn’t sweating the fact that the Packers didn’t give him any additional help at wide receiver behind Davante Adams.

He has confidence in the guys currently on the roster, name-dropping a few of them on a conference call with reporters Friday.

The first one he mentioned? Allen Lazard, who went from 2018 undrafted rookie to the Packers’ second-leading receiver with 477 yards last season.

“Well I think there’s some interesting things to look at. You look at the development of a guy like Allen Lazard and what he did last year and his versatility,” Rodgers said. “He was cut at the end of training camp and then quickly put back on the roster I think Week 1, maybe. And by the end of the season, he was called upon many, many times in important situations to make big plays and he did. He’s just a great teammate, an ascending player, loved his approach every week and he made some big-time plays for us.”

Equanimeous St. Brown was a raw prospect out of Notre Dame in 2018, but one with a high ceiling. He only caught 21 passes as a rookie, but his development was stunted by an ankle injury that landed him on season-ending IR in August.

Rodgers is looking forward to St. Brown getting back on the field and seeing what he can do in the all-important Year 3.

“I’m excited about getting EQ back from injury and seeing how he feels,” Rodgers said. “He made some great strides his rookie year, especially towards the end of the season, making plays for us and just kind of growing each week. he’s got a great approach to the game. It’ll be fun to see him healthy.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling was one of five Packers with at least 400 yards receiving last year, but he struggled to build on what was a promising rookie season in 2018. He saw his numbers decline in targets, receptions and yards last year, but Rodgers hasn’t lost confidence in the 25-year-old wideout.

Rodgers also mentioned Jake Kumerow, who caught 12 passes for 219 yards last season in Green Bay, as a guy he likes heading into 2020.

“MVS is a guy I have a ton of confidence in and I feel like if he can continue to grow, he can really add to our football team and I look for him to make big strides,” he said. “And then Jake Kumerow, as well. Such a steady guy. I’ve been a fan of his since the first time I threw a ball to him. Just love his approach to the game.”

Rodgers doesn’t seem concerned about the Packers’ lack of a true No. 2 receiver opposite Adams. They have bodies at the position, it’s just a matter of a young player stepping up and really progressing next season.

Aaron Rodgers ‘very hopeful’ NFL will play in 2020 but acknowledges the hurdles

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t thought about what it’d be like to play in a stadium with no fans.

The NFL released its regular-season schedule for 2020, but it’s anyone’s guess as to whether it actually begins on time in September – or even spans 17 weeks like it’s supposed to. The coronavirus pandemic has put everything on hold, including the current seasons in the NBA, NHL and MLB.

The NFL could be the latest league forced to alter its season, though we’re still about four months out from the start of the 2020 campaign. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked Friday whether he thinks it’s safe for the NFL to play this fall, and while he’s hopeful that will happen, he also acknowledged the other problems and concerns currently in our country.

“Sports is always something that’s brought people together,” Rodgers said on a conference call with reporters. “You see on networks like ESPN with the Michael Jordan documentary. People are looking for something to bring us together. I’m very hopeful that we can have a season, but it’s important to think about the state of the country and the fact that there are 36 million people unemployed right now. … There’s a lot of problems going on with the country right now associated with the fear of this pandemic and I hope we can use some common sense moving forward and make decisions based on the best interests and I hope sports is a part of that.”

The NFL hasn’t instituted any contingency plans or secondary schedules in the event that games are impacted this fall, but one can assume the league is working on such blueprints just in case. One possibility is playing games in empty stadiums with no fans, which would prevent large crowds from gathering and hopefully continuing to flatten the curve.

Rodgers hasn’t let his mind wander that far, though, and has not yet thought about what that’d be like.

For now, teams are unable to practice and work out at their respective facilities, leading to an all-virtual offseason program for all 32 clubs. Rodgers has been working out at home like hundreds of other players across the league, saying, “luckily I’ve got a lot of workout gear at the house so I’ve been able to work out at my house for a while.”

As far as actual football work at home, he compared it to “a kid throwing the football at the park.” He did say he’s been working out with a small group of players in California, though.