The Vikings offense has been among the most potent in the NFL in recent weeks, particularly through the air, as Darnold has tossed just 1 interception over his past six games — all of which Minnesota has won.

Now, with a record of 13-2 and hosting Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, December 29, Darnold is doing everything he can not to rile up a Packers defense that is ravaged by injury and unlikely to enter the Week 17 matchup anywhere near full strength.

Reporters on Thursday asked Darnold for his thoughts on Green Bay’s defensive unit, and the quarterback did his best to be blunt while also remaining respectful.

“They’re pretty much good everywhere,” he said.

Top Packers Cornerback Jaire Alexander Doubtful Against Vikings

GettyGreen Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander is unlikely to play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17 due to lingering injury issues. 

While that respectful summation of Green Bay’s defensive unit may be true when the team is healthy, several important players across multiple levels of the defense are far from it with just three days remaining until a rivalry game of significant consequence.

Multiple-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander will “probably not” suit up for the Packers on Sunday, according to head coach Matt LaFleur.

That doesn’t bode well for a Packers secondary that Darold will seek to attack with star wide receiver tandem Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

“On top of Alexanders’ status, the fact that Keisean Nixon has been playing in the slot recently could force two backups — Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes — into starting outside cornerback roles against the Minnesota Vikings,” Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Co. wrote Thursday.

Safeties Javon Bullard and Evan Williams are also battling injuries, with Bullard limited all week and Williams sidelined for every practice through Thursday, according to Green Bay’s injury report.

Quay Walker also sat out every practice this week, while fellow linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper missed Wednesday’s session and was limited Thursday.

Vikings Offense, Sam Darnold Playing Best Football as Regular Season Winds Down

GettyQuarterback Sam Darnold and head coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings will try to best the Green Bay Packers for the second time this season in Week 17. 

Green Bay’s secondary/defense has been elite at creating turnovers this season, with 15 interceptions recorded in 15 games played. However, the group also ranks 20th with 3,434 yards surrendered through the air across that same span.

Darnold has been gettable — to a degree — when it comes to turnovers, with 11 interceptions to his name on the season. However, he has also thrown for 3,776 yards and 32 TDs while completing more than 67% of his pass attempts along the way.

Darnold’s mastery of head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system has been such since a 3-INT game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 3 that it is difficult to see such a banged up Packers defense give Darnold a truly hard time in a must-win game on the Vikings home field.

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In a dominating performance, the offense extended their 30-point scoring streak to five games, and the Packers won their fifth game in six tries.

The win also means quarterback Jordan Love and key free agent signings Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney are going to the playoffs for the second time in their careers.

Packers Offense Stays Hot

The Packers offense picked up right where they left off in Week 16, scoring a touchdown on their first three drives.

On the first drive, Love threw a two-yard touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks. The second came via Josh Jacobs’ 13th rushing touchdown of the season, a new career-high. The third drive was capped off by running back Chris Brooks’ first career touchdown.

The Packers ran 23 plays for 226 yards and three touchdowns on their first three drives. To compare, the Saints had 15 plays for 48 yards and turned the ball over once.

Green Bay attacked the Saints on the ground at will. With nine different players carrying the football, the Packers amassed 188 rushing yards on 39 carries. All three of the Packers’ running backs (Jacobs, Brooks, and Emanuel Wilson) scored touchdowns.

Quarterback Jordan Love also kept his Toytathon streak alive with an efficient 182 yards and one touchdown.

During the months of November to January, Love now has 3,464 yards, 27 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Contrast that with 3,829 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions in non-Toyotathon months.

Although the offense stayed hot, Jeff Hafley’s defense stole the show.

Green Bay Packers’ Defense Shines

The Packers’ defense smothered Spencer Rattler and suffocated the Saints offense. Shutting them out for all 60 minutes, the Saints had no answers for what Hafley was throwing at them.

Admittedly, the Saints were playing multiple backups. Derek Carr (hand), Alvin Kamara (groin), and starting receivers Rashid Shaheed (meniscus) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (illness/back) were all inactive.

That left the rookie Rattler to get sacked three times and face pressures on double-digit snaps. Rattle also threw an interception to safety Zayne Anderson, who was making his first NFL career start. The pick also marked the first of Anderson’s career.

Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt led the charge up front with four tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. His effort, alongside defensive end Brenton Cox, allowed Green Bay to terrorize the Saints’ quarterback all night.

In the secondary, cornerback Keisean Nixon continues to show why the Packers did not need Jaire Alexander tonight. He was part of a unit that held Rattle to 153 passing yards and kept his rating to 51.1.

On the ground, the Saints were also stymied. New Orleans’ 2024 third-round pick Kendre Miller got the start in place of the injured Alvin Kamara. He could only muster eight carries for 15 yards, averaging under two yards per carry.

As a whole, the Green Bay defense held the Saints to 196 total yards and zero points. It is the first time the Packers have shut out an opponent since a 17-0 vs. the Seattle Seahawks on November 14th, 2021.

With the win, the Packers set up a pivotal Week 17 game against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings that could alter the NFC Wild Card standings. While Green Bay can no longer win the NFC North title, they can still unseat the Vikings, who currently hold the fifth seed in the playoff picture.

If the Packers steal a win in Minneapolis next week, the stage is set for a must-win Week 18.

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Musgrave, who has been out since Week 4 with an ankle injury that required surgery, has been limited to position drills and scout-team reps since being designated for a return from injured reserve on Dec. 11.

The Packers listed him as questionable on the final injury report for Week 16.

Packers Anticipating Musgrave’s Return

Pelissero added that the Packers are going to ease Musgrave back in — a sentiment head coach Matt LaFleur shared throughout the week.

“It’s not like we would go out there and play him 70 snaps, but if we can ease him back into it, I think that would be really good for him and us.” LaFleur continued saying the team could make Musgrave comfortable in his return, “He’s had enough experience, and I feel pretty comfortable with what we would ask him to do to go out there and play.”

While the former second-round pick may be on a snap count, LaFleur believes his speed and verticality bring another element to the Packers’ offense.

“He’s got something you can’t really coach in terms of just the speed he brings out on the field.”

Since 2023, Musgrave has caught eight passes for 204 yards and one touchdown on passes 10 or more yards. On passes of 20 or more yards, Musgrave has five receptions, for 164 yards and one touchdown with a 98.5 receiving grade, per Pro Football Focus.

Musgrave’s Role

Musgrave adds another element to a Packers offense that has been humming in recent weeks. Averaging 30 points and winning three of four games, it is hard to imagine things getting much better for Green Bay. But with the second-year tight end back, the Packers are getting stronger at the right time.

While it will take time for Musgrave to get fully integrated back into the offense, he is open to any opportunity.

“I’ll do whatever plays they have for me,” Musgrave said. “If that’s blocking, if that’s route-running if that’s whatever. Whatever they have me doing, I’ll do.”

In 11 games as a rookie, Musgrave caught 34 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown. He also had 30 or more receiving yards in six games, including six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in two career postseason games.

Before his injury, Musgrave caught five passes for 22 yards in 108 snaps while serving as Tucker Kraft’s backup.

Ahead of his Monday Night Football return, Luke Musgrave spoke about his recovery.

“Feeling good. I’m taking a lot of scout-team reps, which is great, going against the No. 1 defense. So, it’s been really good, just to learn by doing.”

The Green Bay Packers are entering the witching hour of the NFL season. Although the NFC Nort title is out of reach, they can officially clinch a playoff birth with a with tonight over the Saints. They could still overtake the Minnesota Vikings to land the No. 5 seed or fall to the No. 7 spot with three games remaining.

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But now the Saints are heading north to Green Bay for “Monday Night Football,” and with rookie Spencer Rattler–a native of Arizona, who played college ball at Oklahoma and South Carolina–scheduled to start in place of the injured Derek Carr, New Orleans is trying to find effective ways to acclimate Rattler to the cold.

So they went to the freezer. Yes, the walk-in freezer int he team’s cafeteria in Metarie, Louisiana.

“This morning, Janocko took us in the cafeteria freezer, where it was like 10 degrees, and we’re just going through the whole script in there, and so just doing that, that helped a lot,” Rattler said, via ESPN. “So hopefully it’s not 10 degrees, but we’ll be ready.”

Packers Defense On the Upswing

Going up against what has been an increasingly aggressive and effective Packers defense will be a tall order for Rattler, and doing so in harsh weather conditions might prove to be too much. Rattler has struggled even in good conditions, going 0-3 as a starter and throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions in his four appearances.

His passer rating this year is 73.1.

Still, Packers coach Matt LaFleur has vowed not to take the Saints lightly on Monday.

“The Saints have done an outstanding job,” said LaFleur on Saturday. “Teams are having a hard time moving the ball and having a hard time scoring points. A lot of these guys have been close. They’ve lost four games by three points or less. You’re talking about – that’s a very minimal difference. They could easily be sitting at 9-5 right now. I think our guys realize what type of team is coming in here and what’s at stake. So, I would expect us to play our best ball.”

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The Packers have not released definitive statuses for their injured quintet, but the list goes: linebacker Quay Walker, safety Javon Bullard, tight end Luke Musgrave and cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Corey Ballentine.

It’s the last two that are of special interest, because if there is a spot on the Packers roster that is lacking depth, it’s at cornerback. It would be especially good to see Alexander back on the field, given his status as the top corner on the team and among the best in the game. Alexander is dealing with a knee injury and has played only seven games this season, and has missed most of the last six games (he played just 10 snaps in Week 11).

Packers’ Jaire Alexander Returning?

Coach Matt LaFleur was not definitive on Alexander, but it does appear that he is on track to play on Monday. Alexander was a full participant in practice on Friday, according to the team’s injury report.

“He practiced. We’ll take a look at the tape and then make a decision,” LaFleur told reporters on Saturday.  When asked if Alexander could play, LaFleur said, “Potentially. We’ll take a look at the tape. We’ll talk as a staff  and then make a decision.”

Alexander has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, playing only 34 games in the last four seasons. But, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com, he allows a passer rating of just 86.9 when passes go his way. He usually is assigned the best receiver on the opposing team.

As for the general health of the team LaFleur credits luck.

“I think there’s a lot of luck involved with that, personally,” LaFleur said, knocking on wood (via SI.com). “I do think that there’s some changes that we made that have been pretty good, but I just think that this is such an unpredictable sport in regards to when guys get injured or whatnot.

“So, we’re in a good spot right now.”

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Musgrave, who has been out since Week 4 with an ankle injury that required surgery, has been limited to position drills and scout-team reps since being designated for a return from injured reserve on Dec. 11.

According to LaFleur, tight end Luke Musgrave has the potential to return this Monday against the New Orleans Saints.

Musgrave Nearing a Return

After Friday’s practice, head coach Matt LaFleur offered insight into what he has seen from the second-year tight end.

“Just watching him take a lot of the scout team reps, he’s running fast. We didn’t have pads on this week, but everything I’ve seen from him, he looks pretty good.”

LaFleur adds that Musgrave’s speed and verticality bring another element to the Packers’ offense.

“He’s got something you can’t really coach in terms of just the speed he brings out on the field.”

Since 2023, Musgrave has caught eight passes for 204 yards and one touchdown on passes 10 or more yards. On passes of 20 or more yards, Musgrave has five receptions, for 164 yards and one touchdown with a 98.5 receiving grade, per Pro Football Focus.

One concern about a player returning from injury is workload, but LaFleur does not envision that being a problem.

“It’s not like we would go out there and play him 70 snaps, but if we can ease him back into it, I think that would be really good for him and us.” LaFleur continued saying the team could make Musgrave comfortable in his return, “He’s had enough experience, and I feel pretty comfortable with what we would ask him to do to go out there and play.”

Musgrave’s Role with the Packers

Speaking about his recovery Musgrave said, “Feeling good. I’m taking a lot of scout-team reps, which is great, going against the No. 1 defense. So, it’s been really good, just to learn by doing.”

When asked if he will play on Monday, Musgrave said, “Yeah, hopefully.”

In 11 games as a rookie, Musgrave caught 34 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown. He also had 30 or more receiving yards in six games, including six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown in two career postseason games.

Musgrave lost his starting job coming out of training camp to 2023 third-round pick Tucker Kraft, which dropped his snap percentage to below 40% in Green Bay’s first four games of the 2024 season.

Before his injury, Musgrave caught five passes for 22 yards in 108 snaps.
Upon his return, the former second-round pick knows his role is not defined but is open to any opportunity.

“I’ll do whatever plays they have for me,” Musgrave said. “If that’s blocking, if that’s route-running if that’s whatever. Whatever they have me doing, I’ll do.”

The Packers will practice on Saturday before hosting the Saints on Monday Night Football.

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With Jaire Alexander quickly rising to stardom in one cornerback slot, the feeling was that Stokes would provide a good bookend.

It’s never really worked out, though.  While Alexander has struggled to stay healthy recently, Stokes has been banged up for the last three years, mostly with foot/ankle and hamstring injuries, after a very promising rookie season. Stokes played 12 games in the past two seasons, and while he has played 14 this year, it’s clear injuries have prevented him from being the guy the Packers hoped he’d be.

At Pro Football Focus, Stokes has earned a grade of 57.0, which is 85th out of 115 corners in the NFL. He has not had an interception–or even a pass defensed– since his rookie year, and Stokes has allowed a passer rating of 103.5 when quarterbacks go his way, according to Pro-Football Reference.

Packers Could Give Carrington Valentine More Snaps

All of this is bad news for the Packers and especially bad timing for Stokes. The Packers chose not to pick up the fifth-year option that teams are granted for first-round picks, which will send Stokes into free agency this offseason.

According to team insider Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, there is no chance the Packers will bring Stokes back. He was asked in a mailbag this week why the Packers don’t play Carrington Valentine more than Stokes, given that Valentine figures to be around next season.

“The keg has been tapped clean on Stokes. You’re right,” Schneidman wrote. “That being said, I don’t think Valentine is a stud just yet and you’re not going to play guys full time to prepare for the future when you’re in the thick of a playoff race. Coaches don’t see a clear superior in the battle, for whatever reason. Stokes played fine against the Seahawks, I thought. There’s no way he re-signs in free agency, but the Packers don’t have a plethora of experienced options when Alexander and Bullard are both out.”

Eric Stokes Happy for Opportunity

Stokes is only 25, and given the promise he did show before injuries took their toll, there is a good chance he will get a look elsewhere. With his departure, the Packers would certainly need to address cornerback depth either in the draft or in free agency in 2025.

But Stokes remains upbeat, and just happy to be on the field at all this season, given the way 2022 and 2023 went.

“It’s been good,” Stokes said, via SI.com. “I take the blessing with everything, just knowing that I missed basically a year-and-a-half. I missed a lot of time, so just being back out there with the guys, practicing every day, I take that tremendously because that’s the only thing that I can be blessed for. …”

“Every day that I can go out there, it’s like, ‘Yeah, OK, this is a blessing’ because I know how it feels to be on the sideline, be traveling every week, sitting on the sideline, watching everybody go out there and play. Now, it’s just put all the BS behind and I’m just out there. I never take a play for granted.”

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“Yeah, he’s done for the year,” LaFleur confirmed to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman during the fourth episode of this season’s “Matt LaFleur Podcast” on December 18.

Morgan — the No. 25 overall pick in 2024 — has been dealing with his shoulder injury since August’s training camp and has not played since making his first career NFL start at left guard against the Detroit Lions in Week 9. He will now remain on injured reserve for the remainder of the season, capping his year with just 186 offensive snaps played.

As NBC 26’s John Miller noted, Morgan was seen at practice in Week 15 with his right shoulder in a sling. LaFleur, however, declined to say whether Morgan had undergone surgery on his shoulder when Schneidman asked him about it during their podcast.

Morgan’s injury kept him from legitimately competing with Sean Rhyan for the Packers’ starting right guard job during training camp. With Morgan unable to return, Rhyan — a 2022 third-round pick — will now likely retain the starting gig for the rest of the year.

The Packers (10-4) will host the New Orleans Saints (5-9) at Lambeau Field for Monday Night Football in Week 16 at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time on December 23.

Jordan Morgan’s Potential Remains High for 2025

Morgan has played the last snap of his 2024 rookie season, but there are reasons for optimism about the 2024 first-round pick’s future looking ahead to his second outing.

While the sample size is small, Morgan put some good reps on tape in his limited action as a rookie. Not only did he show that he can play effectively on either the left or right side of the line, but he also allowed zero sacks on 104 total pass-blocking snaps in his six games of action. That’s a nice start for him, especially with his positional versatility.

Speaking of which, Morgan also played offensive tackle in college at Arizona. Though the Packers have vocalized their commitment to playing Morgan at guard, they might find it useful down the road to have someone with inside-outside flexibility if injuries or other issues — declining performance, for example — force them to adjust on the fly.

That said, Morgan’s rookie season had flaws outside of his injury troubles. While he did not allow a sack, he surrendered seven pressures and three quarterback hits as a pass-blocker and struggled with his run-blocking assignments at times at both guard spots. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded out better as a pass-blocker (61.5) than a run-blocker (56.2), but his overall grade (59.2) ranked 74th out of 128 eligible guards.

Morgan’s cut-short season will strike most Packers fans as a disappointment, especially considering they could have instead used their first-round selection on a cornerback, but the potential remains high for Morgan if he returns at full strength in 2025.

Sean Rhyan Likely to Earn Pay Raise for 2024 Play

Morgan’s season-ending injury is disappointing, but the Packers can at least take solace in the fact that Rhyan is developing into a suitable replacement for him at right guard.

Rhyan has experienced his ups and downs throughout his first season as a significant contributor to the Packers offense, but he has brought better run-blocking to the right guard position than his predecessor — former starter Jon Runyan Jr. — had over the past few seasons. He also plays with a reliable motor and an element of violence that complements his smashmouth style of play, often battering defenders downfield.

For instance, look at how effectively Rhyan handled first-round rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II in this rep from their Week 15 matchup. Killer, man-handling stuff.

Rhyan is also likely to earn a pay bump in 2025 for his efforts. As salary-cap specialist pointed out Ken Ingalls, Rhyan is in line to receive a proven performance escalator for the 2025 season — a raise of roughly $2 million in base salary — if he remains healthy and finishes out the season playing the normal amount of snaps for a starting lineman.

Even with a looming challenge from Morgan for his job next season, Rhyan is sitting in a good spot with the Packers for both the short- and long-term futures.

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Alexander — the team’s 2018 first-round pick — has been a high-level defensive player throughout his seven seasons with the Packers, earning both Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro distinctions in the 2020 and 2022 seasons. He is also among the team’s highest-paid players on the roster with a $23.49 million cap hit on a four-year, $84 million deal that denotes him as the second-highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, in per-year value.

But while a healthy Alexander has proven worth the price, the 27-year-old cornerback has struggled to stay on the field in three of the past four seasons, including in 2024.

Alexander missed all but four games of the 2021 season with a shoulder injury. He then missed nine games in 2023 with back and shoulder injuries and sat out an additional game while serving a one-week suspension. Through 15 weeks in 2024, he has missed another seven games — and counting — with quadriceps, groin and knee issues.

While Alexander is signed through the 2026 season, Forbes’ Rob Reischel believes the time has come for Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst to “cut his losses” and is predicting the team will cut ties with Alexander when the 2024 season concludes.

“The process isn’t working,” Reischel wrote on December 13. “It hasn’t worked in nearly four years. And when the offseason arrives, Green Bay needs to end the Alexander era.”

Top Packers Columnist Also Weighs Jaire Alexander

Reischel is not the only one in the Packers media circle who has contemplated what the team should do with its injury-troubled star cornerback. Green Bay Press-Gazette and PackersNews columnist Pete Dougherty also addressed the possibility of the Packers moving on from Alexander in 2025 in response to a reader’s recent mailbag question.

“I went into the research [about Alexander’s situation] thinking they’ll very likely cut Alexander, but I now think the odds are better than 50-50 they won’t,” Dougherty wrote in his December 13 mailbag.

While Dougherty raised similar issues with Alexander — that his injury history argues “very strongly for moving on” — he also broke down the Packers’ ongoing cornerback issues outside of Alexander’s availability. Eric Stokes has regressed, not rebounded, as a healthy member of the defense in 2024, while injuries and youth have forced Keisean Nixon to play more on the outside than in the slot, where he traditionally starts.

The point being that the Packers will have enough challenges working to improve their secondary in 2025 without moving on from Alexander. While cutting him could save the team cap space, the potential pitfalls of trying to replace him could stay their hand.

“I’m assuming [the Packers will] sign a veteran CB and draft at least two,” Dougherty wrote. “But they can’t count on hitting on both picks (if it’s two) and there will be growing pains with young CBs. I could see Gutekunst biting the bullet and going one more season with Alexander.”

Will Packers Make Cornerback a 1st-Round Priority?

The Packers will likely look to the 2025 NFL draft for cornerback reinforcements no matter what decision they make with Alexander, but will they make it their top priority with their first-round selection? Gutekunst has gone down that road a few times before.

Earlier in his tenure, Gutekunst traded up nine spots in the first round of the 2018 draft to land Alexander at No. 18 overall. The next day, he cashed in the Packers’ No. 45 pick in the second round on cornerback Josh Jackson, doing so just one year after the team took cornerback Kevin King with the No. 33 overall pick of the 2017 draft. Neither King nor Jackson earned a second contract, but his move for Alexander paid up enormously.

Gutekunst then took another big swing after letting King walk after the 2020 season. With the No. 29 overall pick in 2021, he kicked off his fascination with Georgia Bulldog defenders and drafted Stokes to become the new perimeter starter opposite Alexander. While injuries would later derail Stokes’ career with the Packers, he shined as a rookie in 2021, finishing with one interception, 14 pass breakups and 55 tackles.

Now, maybe Gutekunst’s misfortune with Stokes has changed his draft approach, but it seems far more likely that he is prepared to take another big swing to address one of the biggest issues — if not the biggest — with his roster. That could mean the Packers using their first-round pick (projected at No. 27 overall in Week 16) to target a new corner.

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“I think Christian’s been practicing better, I think he’s had a great probably last two months,” LaFleur told reporters at his press conference on December 17. “He’s really shown up. It’s showing up on game day. He’s made a lot of great plays. That catch he made on the sideline, that was big time. He also drew a pass interference call. That’s a 40-yard penalty that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. But that was a big time play. And not to mention he’s blocking his butt off as well.”

Watson had 7 catches for 114 yards against the Detroit Lions and 4 catches for 67 yards against the Miami Dolphins.

“In every phase of the game, he’s been A+,” LaFleur added. “The guy is extremely intelligent, we can move him around, he rarely will have a mental error. He’s doing a good job of winning his one-on-one opportunities.”

The 25-year-old third-year receiver told reporters after the Packers 30-13 victory over Seattle, “We’re getting there and we’re making splash plays. You’ve just got to find a way to take them when they’re there.”

Matt LaFleur Also Gave Credit to the Packers Defense: ’11 Guys Playing as 1′

LaFleur also had praise for the Packers defense at his Tuesday press conference.

“I just love our style of play It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t going to be perfect. … We did what we needed to do,” LaFleur told reporters. “We got constant pressure on the quarterback and I thought our coverage disguise was outstanding. I thought it really fooled the quarterback in some instances. … It was 11 guys playing as one.”

LaFleuer did say the team needs to improve how they play on offense in the second half, specifically with their run game.

“There’s opportunities that we’re not taking advantage of. Specifically, that first drive in the second half. That was disappointing. We had 2nd and 2, we went to one of our bread-and-butter runs and we get a yard and a half,” LaFleur said. “And then on third and a half yard, we don’t convert, we don’t block their best player.”

He added, “We’ve got to execute better, certainly there’s times that we as coaches have to put our guys in better position. That’s why both teams get paid, because they’re going to make adjustments and we just have to make sure we stay ahead of them. I do think there were some times we we running the ball pretty effectively in the second half, it just was too inconsistent. And we knew it at half time that they were probably going to start amping up their level of pressure and we saw some more cover 0 in the second half. And then we didn’t necessarily make them pay when we did see those situations.”

LaFleur Provided an Update on a Few Injuries, Including Jordan Love, as the Packers Prepare to Face the Saints

At the press conference, LaFleur provided updates on a few injured players, including QB Jordan Love, who was limping after the win over the Seahawks. LaFleur said Love “should be alright,” and would not be limited in practice this week heading into the Packers game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. He said Love took a hit on his thigh.

About linebacker Quay Walker, who left the Seahawks game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, LaFleur told reporters, “We’ll give him through the week and see where it’s at. I’d say it’s more of a week-to-week type deal.”

The Packers head coach was also asked if safety Javon Bullard, also dealing with an ankle injury, could return against the Saints.

“We’ll see,” LaFleur said. “We’ve got to get him out there on the practice field and see how he’s moving around. He’s definitely moving around the facility better. But that doesn’t mean you can go out and play a football game.”

The 10-4 Packers enter the Saints game with a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win or some help. If Green Bay wins, they’re in. If the Packers lose, they’ll need an Atlanta Falcons loss or tie plus a Los Angeles Rams loss or tie or a Falcons loss or tie and a Seahawks loss or tie to lock up a playoff spot. But LaFleur said that’s not on his mind heading into week 16.

“I’m not even thinking about the playoffs,” LaFleur told reporters. “Not worried about it. I’m worried about us continuing to get better, staying in the moment, focusing on what’s right in front of us. And that’s by attacking our practices the right way and just building our habits. It’s all about how we improve throughout this process. Whatever happens, happens.”

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The Packers have experienced problems at the cornerback position through the 2024 season. Eric Stokes, their 2021 first-round pick, has not returned to his once-promising career trajectory despite finally being healthy in 2024. Meanwhile, All-Pro starter Jaire Alexander has missed seven of their first 14 games with quad, groin and knee injuries.

With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Staff believes the Packers will seek out another starting boundary cornerback during the 2025 offseason, predicting they could “steal” 2024 breakout starter Byron Murphy Jr. from the Minnesota Vikings.

Byron Murphy Could Give Packers Another Ballhawk

Murphy — the No. 33 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft — has experienced a breakout for the Vikings defense in 2024 that could set him up for a huge payday in free agency.

After showing a great deal of promise with three interceptions and 13 pass breakups in his first season with the Vikings, Murphy has upped the ante in 2024 and doubled his interceptions to six through the first 13 games. He ranks third in the NFL behind only Packers star safety Xavier McKinney and Detroit’s Kelvin Joseph, who each have seven.

Murphy also has 12 pass breakups and a career-high 67 tackles heading into Week 15’s Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears, which has firmly landed him in the conversations for Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition among the NFC’s cornerbacks.

Now, the Vikings will likely want to retain Murphy beyond the 2024 season. They even made him a contract offer before the start of the season, but they declined it and opted to play out the final year of his $17.5 million deal — a move that will now benefit him. If the Vikings are willing to meet his price, they can afford to make him one of the top-10 highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL with their roughly $63.2 million in cap space.

Should Murphy reach free agency, though, the Packers will also have the resources to sign him to a contract deserving of his talents. They are projected to have $49.6 million in effective cap space for 2025, and while they are already paying top dollar ($21 million per year) to Alexander, adding another ballhawk alongside McKinney could be worth it.

How Will Packers Handle Jaire Alexander’s Future?

The Packers have largely avoided expensive free-agent signings under general manager Brian Gutekunst with a few exceptions during the 2019 and 2024 NFL offseasons. That tends to happen when a franchise’s modus operandi is drafting and developing talent and then locking down their best and brightest with long-term contract extensions.

To illustrate, the Packers’ five largest cap hits for the 2024 season are all former draft picks: Kenny Clark, Alexander, Jordan Love, Elgton Jenkins and Rashan Gary.

That said, how the Packers approach improving their cornerback room in 2025 could depend heavily on how they move forward with Alexander after the 2024 season.

Alexander — a two-time Pro Bowler — is still a high-level player for the Packers when he is on the field, but his availability has become a problem for the team in the two years since his four-year, $84 million contract extension has kicked in. He played just seven games in 2023 due to a combination of injuries and a one-game suspension and has already missed seven of the Packers’ first 14 games in 2024 with multiple injuries.

Gutekunst might prefer to see how Alexander responds in 2025 before making any drastic decisions about his future, but he will have the option to move on from him if he reaches the offseason and decides he can no longer trust his star corner’s availability.

Though it seems like a long shot, the Packers could designate Alexander as a post-June 1 cut in the offseason and save $17.5 million in cap space for 2025 and $19.5 million in 2026 while incurring identical dead-cap hits of about $7.86 million in each season. And in that scenario, it would make far more sense to weigh signing Murphy to a big deal.

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Cooper has made a bigger and bigger impact each week, as it has become clear he is an ideal fit for Hafley’s defense. He played a total of 18 snaps in the first two weeks of the season, but that number has been increasing each week and now, it seems the Packers can’t get him off the field.

Cooper, coming back from missing three games with a hamstring injury, played 51 snaps on Sunday night against the Seahawks, a 30-13 win.

With good reason. Cooper was unstoppable in the game, with seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, two broken up passes, two quarterback hits, a sack and a big fourth-quarter interception that sucked the air out of any potential Seattle comeback attempt.

On the “Sunday Night Football” broadcast, analyst Cris Collinsworth said, “We are seeing an emerging star in the National Football League, he can do it all.”

Packers’ Jordan Love Pointed to Edgerrin Cooper Postgame

Indeed, Cooper was impressive in Week 15, with the Packers social media team even hyping him up as a potential Pro Bowl candidate. He logged a remarkable 93.8 grade for the week at Pro Football Focus, which was the highest on the team, and raises his season grade to 77.0, which ranks eighth among all linebackers.

Cooper was drafted in the second round last year, with the 45th pick.

In the locker room, after the Packers win in Seattle, coach Matt LaFleur reportedly read off Cooper’s stats to the team to highlight his do-it-all performance. After the game, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today, Packers star quarterback Jordan Love told reporters, “He had a crazy game. He’s a phenomenal player.”

Cooper certainly attracted attention. During the game, ESPN analyst and former NFL defensive back Louis Riddick (a GM candidate for the Jets), wrote on Twitter/X: “There’s that man…#56 Edgerrin Cooper.”

Cooper is not among the leaders in betting odds for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year–Jared Verse of the Rams leads that board–but that could soon change.

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The Packers smothered the Seahawks all night. Jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, a faint “Go Pack Go” chant could be heard on the NBC broadcast. It was a trouncing and just the performance Green Bay needed in the witching hour of the NFL season.

Starting at the top, quarterback Jordan Love put together an efficient and clutch Sunday Night Football performance.

Jordan Love(s) Toyotathon

The jokes about Jordan Love’s play during Toyotathon have never been more accurate. Completing 74 percent of his passes and throwing for 229 yards with two touchdowns, Love celebrated the yearly truck sale in style.

During the months of November to January, Love now has 3,282 yards, 26 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Contrast that with 3,829 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions in non-Toyotathon months.

Love’s 123.8 rating against Seattle is his second-highest of the season and second rating above 120 in the last three weeks. His incredible back-foot, 26-yard completion to tight end Tucker Kraft, while backed up on Green Bay’s 12-yard line, highlighted a record-breaking night.

Love’s final 22-yard touchdown to Romeo Dobbs marked the 56 of his career, tying him with Aaron Rodgers for the most through a player’s first 30 starts in franchise history.

Jordan Love’s performance was spectacular, but the Packers’ defense stole the show.

Packers Smothering Defense

The Packers defense has turned a corner this season. Even with pro bowler Jaire Alexander still sidelined with a knee injury, they stymied the Seahawks’ offense all night long.

Allowing just 13 points and 208 total yards, the Packers looked like the Steel Curtain terrorizing Geno Smith and Sam Howell. Led by Kingsley Enagbare’s three sacks, Green Bay’s defense finished with six pass deflections, seven sacks, ten tackles for loss, and 12 QB hits.

While the totals are impressive, it is how the Packers accomplished the feats that stand out. Six different players tallied a sack, seven players secured a tackle for loss, nine players had a QB hit, and four players deflected a pass.

It was complete drubbing by Jeff Hafley’s unit that was capped off by rookie Edgerrin Cooper’s first career interception off Seahawks’ backup quarterback Sam Howell. 

Cooper was the Packers’ defense best player on the field against Seattle. The second-round pick led the team with seven tackles and finished with two tackles for loss, two pass deflections, two QB hits, and the previously mentioned interception.

The performance led NBC broadcast Chris Collinsworth to call Cooper an “emerging star.”

Running back Josh Jacobs was also great totaling 94 rushing yards and one touchdown. He only needs one more rushing touchdown to surpass his career high.

With three games left in the 2024 regular season, Green Bay now has a 99 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to the Athletic. If they win out, they could threaten the Lions for the number one seed. Detroit will have to lose all their remaining games, but the top seed is still feasible — even if unlikely.

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Moss made the news public on social media on Friday, December 13, via an appearance on Instagram Live. Seth Kaplan of Fox 9 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, summed up Moss’s video message in several posts.

“Randy Moss on Instagram Live says he is a cancer survivor. He just got home, was in the hospital for 6 days,” Kaplan posted. “Moss says it’ll be a tough road with chemo and radiation, but ‘Your boy is back!’ Thanking everyone for the prayers.”

Messages began flowing in from across the sport, including from the league’s official X account, ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Moss’s former Vikings teammate Cris Carter and countless fans. The news also shed light on a message issued by former Green Bay Packers and former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre a few days earlier.

“Prayers to Randy Moss and his family 🙏,” Favre wrote in a social media post. “Randy is, and will always be, one of the all time greats to ever run a route. Definitely on the NFL WR Mt. Rushmore.”

Brett Favre Recently Revealed Frightening Medical Diagnosis of His Own

GettyFormer Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.

The news of Moss’s cancer came just a little more than two months after Favre revealed that he is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease during a congressional hearing in late September.

“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others,” Favre said. “And I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me, because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This is also a cause dear to my heart.”

The hearing surrounded legal issues involving Favre and welfare funds in Mississippi meant for  some of the poorest families in the country.

“The revelation about his health overshadowed Favre’s testimony about TANF, the welfare funds at the heart of the sprawling Mississippi case in which he has been embroiled since 2022,” per an ESPN report. “Favre is one of dozens of defendants in a lawsuit seeking to recoup the misappropriated funds. He has denied wrongdoing and [authorities have not charged him criminally to this point].”

Randy Moss Will Return to ESPN as Soon as Health Allows

GettyFormer Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss.

Moss underwent a six-hour procedure after doctors identified cancer in the bile duct between his pancreas and liver, which included the placement of a stent to ease his liver troubles.

The Hall of Fame wideout had kept his health issues relatively private until his eyes yellowed, which fans noticed on a broadcast of ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.” That symptom, called jaundice, is consistent with liver problems and led to widespread discussion on social media around what Moss’s health issues might be.

Moss came out on Friday to regain control of the narrative and let fans know that he intends to return to his role as an NFL analyst for ESPN as soon as his health allows.

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By officially being ruled for Sunday’s game, it marks the fourth consecutive week Alexander will miss with a knee injury.

Alexander suffered a torn PCL on the final play of the Week 8 win vs. Jacksonville. After missing the following week against Detroit, Alexander tried to play in Chicago. He lasted ten snaps before re-aggravating the injury.

Despite the prognosis, there was initial optimism that Alexander could play this Sunday.

Packers’ Early Week Confidence

Alexander was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Head coach Matt LaFleur did not list him on either day’s injury report — a result that made the cornerback confident he would play against the Seahawks.

“I have more of a chance this week than I had last week,” Alexander said after Thursday’s practice.

Head coach Matt LaFleur had a differing opinion, shutting down Alexander before Friday’s practice and for the rest of the Week 15.

When asked why Alexander did not practice, LaFleur stated, “Just based on what I saw the last couple days, it didn’t feel like he was ready to play. There are certain requirements to get out there and go play, like certain speeds and what not. And when you’re not hitting them, you’re not ready to play.”

LaFleur clarified that he wanted to avoid another situation like Chicago and not put his team behind the eight ball.

“I just did not want to have another situation like Chicago, quite frankly. Where [Alexander] is in for a couple of plays, and it puts a bind on every other area. It puts some guys in some tough spots in regards to special teams, and also you want to get the guys that are going to have to go play the reps. So, I think that’s an important part of it.”

With Alexander out, the Packers will continue to rely on Ke’Sean Nixon, Eric Stokes, and Carrington Valentine in the secondary. While the Packers are confident in the group, they know what Alexander can add to the defense.

Alexander’s Absence vs. Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks may not be a high-powered offense, but they are hitting strides at the right time. Having won four games in a row, quarterback Geno Smith ranks second in the league with 3,474 passing yards, and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has caught four touchdowns in five weeks.

Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley spoke to the media on Thursday about what it would mean to have Alexander back on the field.

“I think we all know the answer to that question. When Ja is healthy, he’s one of the best corners in our league,” Hafley said. “Week in and week out, when you’re playing against some premier players, sometimes it’s helpful to have a premier player to have out there with him.”

“If he’s available, that would be great. If he’s not, I say this with complete confidence in all the other players we have, I’m confident that they’ll go out and we’ll compete and continue to play better and play good defense. But like Matt [LaFleur] said, he was out there today, and we’ll see what tomorrow and the next day bring. But I know he’s trying.”

The Packers will have to wait another week to see if Alexander can play. In the meantime, they must win in Seattle to retain a grip on the fifth seed in the NFC Wild Card standings.

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They can theoretically still win the division, although last Thursday’s loss vs. the Detroit Lions makes the chance of that slim. Green Bay could also miss the playoffs if the Los Angeles Rams or Atlanta Falcons finish the season strong.

Either way, the Packers need to play their best stretch of football over the next month to clinch a playoff birth for a second consecutive season.

One area the team can improve is their secondary. Cornerbacks Keisean Nixon and Eric Stokes struggled in the loss against Detroit. They combined to allow eight catches for 68 yards and one touchdown on eleven targets.

The injury to two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander has left a ripple effect, causing Nixon, Stokes, and Carrington Valentine to play out of their primary positions. But that could be changing soon.

Jaire Alexander Inching Closer to Return

Jaire Alexander was a full participant in practice for the first time since the Packers’ Week 11 win vs. the Chicago Bears. Alexander, who initially suffered a PCL injury to his knee in Week 9, attempted to play against Chicago but removed himself after just ten snaps.

After Wednesday’s practice, head coach Matt LaFleur left the door open for Alexander’s return this Sunday vs. the Seattle Seahawks.

“I have to go back and watch the tape. But from when I was watching, he looked like he was moving around well. We’ll see how it transpires over the course of the week. Hopefully, he’ll be ready to roll [ vs. Seahawks].”

LaFleur did not list Alexander on the injury report, which could be more proof Alexander’s knee is on the mend.

If Alexander does return this week, the Packers can finally play their top three cornerbacks — something they will need against the Seahawks’ offense.

Alexander’s Impact vs. Seahawks

Jaire Alexander has the eighth-best coverage grade among cornerbacks and the highest on the Packers, per Pro Football Focus. Having Alexander back on the field should give Green Bay’s secondary enough to match whatever Seattle throws their way.

When asked about the Seahawks receivers, LaFleur spoke highly of the team’s top two targets.

“[Jaxon Smith-Njigba] is somebody we studied extensively coming out in the draft, and he’s round into a pretty darn good receiver. I know D.K. [Metcalf] has missed a few games. But he’s gotten more opportunity, and you’re seeing the production out there. He’s become a go-to guy for them.”

Smith-Njigba and Metcalf have combined for 1,723 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Another reason Alexander could be returning a the perfect time.

With Alexander on the field, the Packers are 6-1 and possess a true shutdown cornerback willing to shadow the opposing team’s best receiver. On 25 targets this season, Alexander has allowed just 14 receptions, giving him a reception percentage allowed inside the top 20.

With key games against the Seahawks and Vikings ahead, Alexander’s presence can shape the future of Green Bay’s season.

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The Packers officially opened Musgrave’s 21-day activation window from the injured reserve list ahead of December 11’s first practice, giving him a chance to potentially return to the 53-man roster and play against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15.

Musgrave injured his ankle in Week 4’s game against the Minnesota Vikings but stayed in the game and attempted to play through his injury. While he remained active for the Packers’ next game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5, he did not play any snaps. The team then formally shut him down on October 11, placing him on injured reserve.

The Packers will still need to activate Musgrave to the 53-man roster before Sunday’s game with the Seahawks for him to play — which will require a corresponding move to free up a roster spot — but his participation in the next two practices should be telling.

The Packers (9-4) will face the Seahawks (8-5) at Lumen Field in Seattle at 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15 for Week 15’s Sunday Night Football showcase.

Luke Musgrave Stood Out as Rookie in 2023 for Packers

Musgrave’s return to practice comes with less anticipation than it would have one year ago. That’s because Tucker Kraft — who was drafted in the same class as Musgrave but one round later — has broken out in his second season with Green Bay. Through the first 13 games, Kraft has the Packers’ second-most receptions (39) and third-most receiving yards (521) and leads the team with seven touchdown receptions.

That said, Musgrave is still a quality vertical threat who stood out as a rookie in 2023.

A 2023 second-round pick, Musgrave made nine starts and played in 11 games for the Packers during his rookie season, tallying 34 receptions for 352 yards and a touchdown on 46 targets. He displayed excellent speed and finesse as a route-runner and used both advantages to get open in the mid-to-deep-field ranges for quarterback Jordan Love.

Had Musgrave not lacerated his kidney in Week 11 and subsequently missed the next six games while recovering from his injury, he could have reached even greater heights. He proved that in the playoffs when he caught six of his seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown, including a three-for-three performance in their wild-card win over Dallas.

Now, Musgrave did not look nearly as effective to start the 2024 season. He caught just five passes over the first four games and didn’t exceed 13 receiving yards in any of them. Kraft’s breakout will also likely limit his usage when he returns to the fold on offense.

The Packers will take all the help they can get for their playoff push, though.

Packers Injuries Looking Better Ahead of Seahawks

Musgrave is not the only good news the Packers received on the injury front ahead of Wednesday’s first practice for the Seahawks. The Packers also welcomed back rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and cornerback Corey Ballentine to practice after both missed the entire week of practice ahead of Week 14’s matchup against Detroit.

Cooper — a 2024 second-round pick — had not practiced since November 20 as he has been dealing with a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined. While the Packers will have to see how he finishes the week of practice before clearing him to return to action, his limited participation at Wednesday’s practice is a good sign for his game-day status.

The Packers also had rookie safety Evan Williams (concussion), cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and wide receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion) practicing to start the week; however, coach Matt LaFleur said Doubs is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Javon Bullard, the team’s starting nickel cornerback and rotational safety, was the lone Packers player who did not participate in Wednesday’s first practice for Week 15. He is still recovering from an ankle injury that forced him out of Week 14’s loss to the Lions.

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The clip shows Favre confronted by Mark Gastineau – the 4 x All Pro former New York Jets defensive end – over Favre’s decision to allegedly deliberately fall down at the end of the game and hand Michael Strahan the single-season sack record back in 2001, per ESPN.

22 years after losing the NFL single-season sack record, Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre for ‘taking a dive’ on the record-breaking play.

Catch the latest @30for30, ‘The New York Sack Exchange,’ on ESPN and ESPN+ starting Dec. 13. pic.twitter.com/Oz5KRwVcy7

— ESPN (@espn) December 10, 2024

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ESPN Documentary Extract Reveals Uneasy Meeting Between Favre And Gastineau

In the exchange, Gastineau makes some pointed remarks towards Favre and the card show, stating:

“When you fell down for him…I’m going to get my sack back – I’m going to get my sack back dude”.

Favre: “You probably hurt me”

Gastineau: “Well I don’t care, you hurt me – you hurt me, you hear me?

Favre: “Yeah, I hear you”

Gastineau: “You really hurt me, you hurt me Brett”

Brett Favre Responds To Viral “The New York Sack Exchange” Clip

This clip heralds from ESPN’s 30 For 30 documentary series episode, “The New York Sack Exchange”. And after this very tense, almost saddening interaction, Favre decided to explain in further detail his relationship with the former Jet in a multi-part thread, per Favre’s X account.

I want to clear the air on the footage released showing a small dustup between myself and Mark Gastineau, the former New York Jet, so here’s a 🧵.
(1)

— Brett Favre (@BrettFavre) December 11, 2024

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Favre’s commented the following in his X thread:

“In a different game or situation, I would have made a bigger effort to avoid the sack or TFL. But at no point was I thinking about hurting Gastineau. Maybe it crossed my mind to help Strahan. I didn’t think it through. That wasn’t my forte at the time.I just wanted to have fun and compete.

In retrospect, I understand how Gastineau feels. We played a brutal game. Gastineau played during an era where guys didn’t make generational wealth….

I see now how being the Sack King would elevate his value at card shows, strengthen his case for the Hall of Fame, increase his demand as a public speaker.  I had no way of knowing that then. I realize now the potential financial implications because football is far more business-oriented than when me or Mark played.”

 

In the very long series of tweets, Favre outlines the fact that whilst he was not deliberately trying to help Strahan – or help Gastineau, an offensive play gone rogue combined with Strahan being at the cusp of the sack record may potentially have subconsciously played a part in him falling to the ground, allowing the former New York Giant to get his record-breaking 22.5 sack to eclipse Gastineau’s 22 in 1984.

Yet, the Hall of Fame quarterback acknowledges that there were some negative financial ramifications for Gastineau in potentially partially allowing Strahan to get that extra sack – as Favre says, in an era in which footballers were not compensated to the sky-high levels they are at this point in time.

Gastineau has some just gripes, and Favre deals with his comments with considerable grace. Although it is important to point out that Gastineau did hold that record for nearly 20 years before Strahan broke it, so he certainly had his time in the sun as the NFL “sack king”.

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As offensive line coach Luke Butkus said of Myers this year, when Myers played through a bad wrist injury, “Josh is a warrior, man. He plays through it. He’s banged up. We all are. It’s Week 11, right? But came through it pretty good. He’ll be the first one to tell you he could always play better. Had a few plays he’d want to take back, but as far as playing hard and physical, that’s who he is..”

But Myers might not be the starter in Green Bay for long. He is in his fourth season and though the team trusts him, he has not rated well in terms of metrics as he heads into free agency in 2025. Pro Football Focus grades him at 50.2, which is 40th in the NFL out of 41 centers.

And at PackersNews.com, veteran beat writer Pete Dougherty notes we are likely seeing the end of Myers’ time in the middle of the Packers line.

Josh Myers Will Need to Be Replaced

In an article titled, “An early look at what decisions the Packers are facing in the offseason,” Dougherty writes that Myers is a name expected to wind up on the team’s cutting room floor.

“The 2021 second-round pick will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, and odds are the Packers will let him walk. He’s had his ups and downs in four seasons as their starting center, but he’s improved each year, become a leader on the line and is playing good football this season,” Dougherty writes.

But you can’t pay everybody, and the Packers have options. They drafted Jacob Monk in the fifth round this year, and in camp he looked like of one of those guys who’s unimpressive at first blush but just finds a way to get the job done. He very well might be ready to start next season.”

Dougherty also mentions the possibility of either drafting a center or moving veterans Elgton Jenkins or Sean Rhyan to the position.

Packers’ Young Talent Will Soon Need Paydays

Either way, it’s looking more and more like the Packers and GM Brian Gutekunst will need to make difficult decisions on the roster int he coming months. It helps that the weighty leftover dead cap from the contracts of Aaron Rodgers and David Bakhtiari will fall away, and the Packers will have space to add players.

But they have needs–mainly in the defensive backfield and on the defensive front, where they need a better pass rusher. There will also be future extensions to consider.

The Packers paid Jordan Love this offseason, but they’ll need to figure out where they stand with some of their talented young players, especially among the pass catchers, where Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs will need to be paid, as well as Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and tight end Tucker Kraft.

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They are 9-4, with a very strong chance of making the playoffs – currently lying at 97% according to the NFL official website.

However, resting 3 games behind division leaders, the Detroit Lions, with just 4 left – and with Detroit holding the tiebreaker, in addition to lying two behind second place, Minnesota; Green Bay have barely a sliver of a chance to retake the NFC North for the first time since 2021.

Packers Looking Towards Playoffs, Rather Than Divisional Title

GettyMatt LeFleur Green Bay Packers

This 3-year streak without reaching the division’s summit would tie the Packers’ joint longest time between division titles since the turn of the millennium, where Green Bay missed out on the NFC North title for 4 consecutive years from 1998-2001.

Yet, despite Thursday’s loss to the Lions all but putting the North out of reach, there were still many positives to draw for Green Bay.

Another turnover free performance from Jordan Love; an offensive line that surrendered just 1 sack; and a hallmark, 3-touchdown rushing performance from stud running back, Josh Jacobs, all gave the Packers nice things to ruminate on during their min-bye.

Tucker Kraft Speaks Out About Team Performance And Future

GettyTucker Kraft hurdling touchdown vs. the Detroit Lions

Tucker Kraft gave a very frank overview of where he believes the team is at right now, and assessed what he believes was a major shortcoming during their last outing at Ford Field, per Matt Schneidman.

Tucker Kraft assesses where the Packers are with four games left:

“Last game was a check for us because we had guys playing with — myself included — playing with aggression but not necessary the best technique … this next storm of games, we’re gonna be locked in.” pic.twitter.com/m96ovcEZb7

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 9, 2024

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Kraft stated:

“I’d say last game was a check for us because we had guys playing with — myself included — playing with aggression but not necessarily the best technique.

There was a few times I went in full head of steam trying to hit a guy, but my angles were off and I wasn’t staying connected to my block, and thats the difference between a tackle on the line of scrimmage versus a[n]..explosive play.

So going forward…we’ll take each game one game at a time, one play at a time, and this next storm of games, we’re gonna be locked in – we’re going to be energized; we’re going to bring that juice”.

Kraft’s sentiments reflect an accurate depiction of the Packers’ play on Thursday night, with missed arm tackles and lapses in concentration – such as Christian Watson‘s 1st half fumble – undoing much of the great work produced on both sides of the ball.

The former South Dakota State man has quickly become a vocal presence in the locker room, despite only being in his 2nd year in the NFL – although it is not hard to see why. Kraft ranks 8th in the league in receiving yards amongst tight ends with 521, and 3rd in touchdown receptions with 7.

Establishing himself as a bona fide top 10 TE in the league is certainly not hindered by the 2nd year’s willingness and eagerness to block, routinely opening up rushing lanes in head coach, Matt LeFleur’s outside zone run scheme.

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According to the team’s official transaction wire for December 9, the Packers signed former New England Patriots guard Michael Jordan to their practice squad on Monday and released rookie offensive tackle Spencer Rolland in a corresponding roster move.

Jordan — a 2019 fourth-round pick — started 11 games at left guard for the Patriots this season, but the team demoted him to the practice squad in late November and later cut ties with him because of his struggles in the role. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed three sacks and 23 pressures on 441 pass-blocking snaps for New England and graded out as one of the six worst run-blocking guards in the league (119th of 125).

Still, the 26-year-old Jordan has made 40 starts and played in 67 career games as an interior offensive lineman, which could prove useful to the Packers as they fight to secure their place in the NFL playoffs over the final four weeks of the regular season.

Jordan is also the second guard the Packers have added to their 16-man practice squad in the last two weeks, following behind third-year Marquis Hayes on November 30.

The Packers (9-4) will play their next game at the Seattle Seahawks (8-5) for Week 15’s Sunday Night Football showcase at 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time on December 15.

Packers Eligible to Activate Jordan Morgan in Week 15

The Packers have now stashed more guard depth on their practice squad, but the bigger boon for the interior of their offensive line in Week 15 may come from Jordan Morgan.

Morgan, the No. 25 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, is eligible to be designated for return from the injured reserve list in Week 15 and could resume practicing with the team as soon as Wednesday’s first practice on December 11 if he is cleared for action.

Morgan has missed seven of the first 13 games of his rookie season with the Packers because of a shoulder injury that sidelined him for three games in the first half of the year and then landed him on injured reserve on November 16 after he re-aggravated it. If the Packers feel his shoulder has healed sufficiently, though, his return would supply their line with a more significant depth piece than either of their practice-squad adds.

Morgan isn’t the only Packer eligible to return from the injured list in Week 15. The team can also designate tight end Luke Musgrave — the team’s No. 42 overall pick in 2023 — to return to practice this week if they deem he is healthy enough to return.

Musgrave has been on injured reserve since October 10 with an ankle injury and has not played in a game since Week 4’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings on September 29. Given how long he has missed, the Packers could potentially take advantage of Musgrave’s 21-day activation and give him more than the upcoming week to get his conditioning back.

Matt LaFleur Provides More Packers Injury Updates

The Packers could receive some reinforcements from their injured list in Week 15, but they are not out of the woods yet as far as injuries go on their 53-man roster.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shared updates on a few of the team’s injured players following Week 14’s loss to the Detroit Lions. Rookie safety Javon Bullard is “week-to-week” with an ankle injury that knocked him out of the game early. He also said fellow rookie safety Evan Williams and wide receiver Romeo Doubs are still in the league’s concussion protocol to the start of the week — though, there is time for them to clear it.

While Williams sustained his concussion against the Lions, Doubs has missed the past two games for the Packers and is now entering his third week in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Doubs returned to practice as a limited participant ahead of Week 14’s prime-time matchup with the Lions, but the Packers ruled him out on their final injury report.

The Packers should have more details on their injured players’ progress when they put out their first injury report for Week 15’s matchup after December 11’s first practice.

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And whilst the Packers ultimately came up short against the current frontrunners for the #1 seed in the NFC, they gave the Lions about as difficult test as they have faced this year, with a wild last minute play-call from head coach, Dan Campbell, granting Detroit a 12th win this year, 31-34.

After the game, Green Bay head coach, Matt LeFleur, stated that the Packers would have to “earn the right” to return to Ford Field, with a Divisional round matchup potentially on the horizon if they make the playoffs and move past the Wild Card stage.

As Positive A Loss As A Team Can Have For Green Bay

GettyMatt LeFleur vs. Detroit Lions

Yet, this was anything but a despondent loss for the 3rd place team in the NFC North, in fighting an incredibly closely fought game that, were it not for a couple of miscues and penalties – such as a costly fumble by receiver, Christian Watson – could have gone the Packers’ way.

And Green Bay’s players seem well aware of that fact, with veteran defensive lineman, Kenny Clark, issuing a sinister message to the Lions, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

“We’re definitely going to be back here,” Kenny Clark said. “And we’ll be excited to play them again once we do.”

A slow start on offense and a porous defense doomed the Packers in Detroit.

They’re not quite the Lions, but they’re not far off: https://t.co/9PkOVdNlwc

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 6, 2024

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Unlike LeFleur’s more reserved message, emphasizing the importance of winning the right to see Detroit later on in the postseason, Clark has full confidence that his team will make their way to a matchup with the mighty Lions; and can beat them when they do.

Are The Packers Bona Fide Super Bowl Contenders

GettyJordan Love touchdown

Besides a wet night at Lambeau in November against the same Lions, the Packers have not been easily subdued by any opponent, with all of their other 3 defeats coming by 5 points or less – even with Jordan Love’s persistent injury woes throughout this season.

However, Green Bay should be concerned by the fact that all of their losses have come at the hands of strong opponents – the 12-1 Lions (x 2); 10-2 Eagles; and 10-3 Vikings, rather than “flukey”, one-off type defeats.

In fact, the only team the Packers have beaten with a winning record are the 8-5 Houston Texans, who many believe lack the current infrastructure to compete deep into the playoffs at this point in time.

The inability to beat high-level opponents is certainly a worrying sign for Green Bay with regards to their Super Bowl aspirations, yet Packers fans will point to the improvements shown by the run defense and Jordan Love’s continual improvement from his early season injuries and interception free-for-all as a symbol of the team moving in the right direction – with Thursday night’s game being the proof in the “pudding”.

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In a game where the Packers had the opportunity to secure the season tie-breaker over the Lions and pull within one game of the NFC North crown, Reed was non-existent.

Zero yards and zero receptions – not ideal for the team’s leading wide receiver.

Reed’s warning of, “Wait til I come to Detroit,” on the St. Brown podcast back in October felt more like a whimper. In Green Bay’s most important game of the season, Reed was an afterthought and unnoticeable on the field—the exact opposite from his Week 9 113-yard performance vs. the Lions earlier this season.

Part of this can be attributed to the Lions’ defense and head coach Matt LaFleur’s play-calling, but Reed’s box score continues a concerning trend for the former second-round pick

 Reed’s Recent Downward Trend

GettyPackers’ Jayden Reed on a carry vs. Miami Dolphins

After averaging just over six touches and 81 yards per game in the first nine weeks of the season, Reed has come crashing down to earth.

Following the team’s Week 10 bye week, Reed has mustered just 11 targets, two carries, and 73 receiving yards in four games. A far cry from his early season stats.

Reed is not injured, making his lack of offensive input confusing. Increased production from Christian Watson could be a reason Reed has taken a backseat, but that justification does not seem fair.

LaFleur did not address Reed’s lack of production following the 34-31 Thursday Night Football loss vs. Lions. But integrating the team’s leading target-getter and most impactful receiver could have been the difference in a three-point game.

Despite only 100 yards and three touchdowns away from surpassing his rookie season totals, Reed’s target projections are noticeably lower. Reed is averaging one less target per game this season. He is on pace to finish with 12 fewer targets in 2024 despite being on track to play one more game.

Reed has seen an uptick in rushing attempts this season. His 13 attempts thus far are already more than his total in 2023. Reed has also increased his run success rate in 2024 to 61.5%, up seven percent from his rookie season total.

Another reason to question Reed’s recent usage. If he has been more effective, why has he not been given the ball more?

 Hope for the Future

GettyGreen Bay Packers’ Jayden Reed in fourth quarter vs. Minnesota Vikings

If 2023 is anything to learn from, it is that Jayden Reed turns up the heat late in the season. From Weeks 11 to 18, Reed received 43 targets, including six designed runs. There was a concentrated effort to involve him in the offense.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Packers’ offense has 22 explosive-designed runs in 2024. Jayden Reed ranks second on the team with five. Yet another reason he should be averaging more than three touches in the last four games.

As of now, the Packers are 9-4. They are in third place in the NFC North and hold a slim grip on the sixth Wild Card spot. Green Bay also sits just 1.5 games behind the Vikings for the NFC’s fifth seed and can surpass the Lions for the NFC North lead if all dominoes fall their way.

Getting Reed the ball does not confirm wins, but it could aid Green Bay’s quest to clinch a playoff birth.

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While the game pushes the Lions further ahead as the favorite to win the NFC this season, it was not a total washout for the Packers, who looked much better this time around than in the Week 9 loss the team suffered at Lambeau Field, by a 24-14 score. The Packers were a couple of plays away from pulling out this win.

And for coach Matt LaFleur, that was the important thing to pull out from the loss. In his postgame press conference, at which he can often be testy after a loss, LaFleur was relaxed and revealed what he said to players after the game–that they could well find themselves back in Detroit in the playoffs in a bit more than a month.

“I told our team, we are going to have to earn the right to come back,” LaFleur said. “It’s not going to be easy. But I am confident in the resiliency of our group, and that they’re going to continue to fight to stay together, stay connected because I do think we have a pretty good football team.”

Lions 4th Down Plays Were Critical

One of the critical features of this one was the aggressive stance taken by Lions coach Dan Campbell, who went for a first down five times on fourth-down plays. The Lions were successful on four of them, which was back-breaking for the Packers defense.

Detroit was 7-for-15 on third downs, but rather than getting the ball back on subsequent punts, the Packers have up four more first downs thereafter. It was costly for the Lions once, when they failed to convert a fourth down late in the third quarter, and set up a Packers touchdown.

But for the most part, the Lions pulled off the right plays, including a dramatic fourth down late in the game that was converted, and helped the Lions run down the clock to the final seconds before kicking the game-winner.

LaFleur said none of that surprised him.

“Maybe the one at the end of the game, a little bit,” he said. “But you know, that is how Dan has done it throughout the course of his career. It doesn’t necessarily surprise me. Hats off to them, they executed and we didn’t.”

Packers Rebounded Nicely

Probably the biggest downer for the Packers, LaFleur said, was the slow start. The Packers did well to shake it off and come back as the game progressed, but they were down, 10-0, before they got their offense going.

“I thought our guys did a good job coming out in the second half, kinda getting the momentum by going down, getting a touchdown, hitting the big play to Christian (Watson), then defensively getting the takeaway and converting that into points.

“Ultimately, I felt we just started, especially on the offensive side of the ball, too slow. We go punt, punt, fumble, then we score a touchdown. It is only a handful of plays that separate these types of games.”

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And while it might not be immediate, the team is not supposed to sit on its hands and hope the player in question gets better. That player is linebacker Quay Walker, whose promising start to his career after he was a first-round pick in 2022 has faded as it has become clear he is not a fit with the current iteration of the Packers’ defense.

Walker is in Year 3 with the Packers, and while he is still a starter and still playing the bulk of the team’s snaps, he has not become the physical, do-everything presence in the middle that Green Bay had hoped he would be. At Pro Football Focus, Walker has a grade of 58.1, which ranks 60th among the league’s 83 linebackers.

According to team insider Pete Dougherty of PackersNews.com, don’t expect to see Walker around for too much longer in Green Bay.

Packers Could Trade Quay Walker This Offseason

That’s because the Packers will have to decide in May whether to exercise their fifth-year option on Walker for the 2026 season. That, Dougherty says, is a non-starter–and could open the way for a trade.

“It’s a given they’ll decline. OverTheCap estimates his option will be about $16 million. No way (GM Brian) Gutekunst will commit to that. To be clear about how this works, Walker is under contract for ’25, so the option is for ’26. But the Packers have to decide on the option a year ahead of time,” he wrote.

“Actually, there’s no ruling out a possible trade of Walker in the offseason, depending on what the Packers have seen from third-round pick Ty’Ron Hopper on the practice field. Hopper has played only seven snaps on defense this season and missed most of training camp because of an ankle injury, but in two preseason games he brought a physical element the Packers haven’t seen in the middle of their defense for a long time.”

So, while it is a given that the Packers will not give Walker a big 2026 payday–linebackers have had trouble getting big contracts these days–it is not a given that he will be on the roster at this time next season.

But while Walker might go down as a draft error, if the Packers keep liking what they see from Hopper and Edgerrin Cooper, surely they’ll accept that.

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The Packers officially ruled out four players — including wide receiver Romeo Doubs and star cornerback Jaire Alexander — in their final injury report for Week 14’s game against the Lions after some initial optimism about their statuses during the week.

Doubs returned to practice this week for the first time since he sustained his concussion in Week 12’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on November 24, participating in a limited capacity in all three sessions. He did not, however, clear the NFL’s concussion protocol, leaving the Packers without one of their top pass-catchers against the Lions.

Meanwhile, Alexander began the week as a limited participant in practice, but the team downgraded him to DNP (did not participate) for Wednesday’s final walkthrough. The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback has played just 10 defensive snaps over the past five weeks due to a knee injury and will now be inactive for a third consecutive game.

The Packers also ruled out cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee) and rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) in their final injury report. Balentine injured his knee in Week 13’s win over the Dolphins but missed the entire week of practice. As for Cooper, he has not practiced since November 20 and will now miss his third straight game.

The Packers (9-3) will face the Lions (11-1) at Ford Field in Detroit for Thursday Night Football at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time on December 5.

Dontayvion Wicks in Line for Big Opportunity vs. Lions

With Doubs unavailable against the Lions, Dontayvion Wicks should have another big opportunity to impress for the Packers in Thursday night’s prime-time lights.

Wicks played his highest percentage of offensive snaps (89%) in Week 13’s win over the Dolphins as a replacement starter for Doubs, catching four of his five passing targets for 30 yards. While the Packers continued to spread the ball between several playmakers — including tight end Tucker Kraft and running back Josh Jacobs — against Miami, he finished as Jordan Love’s second favorite wide receiver target behind Jayden Reed.

That should be the case once more against the Lions; although, Wicks will need to strive for a better outing than his first matchup of the season with Detriot in Week 9. In that matchup, Wicks caught none of his three targets as the Packers suffered a 24-14 loss.

Wick has 21 receptions for 247 yards and four touchdowns through the first 12 games.

Lions Also Rule Out 4 Players for Thursday Night Football

The Lions will also roll into Thursday Night Football’s matchup with four players ruled out on their final injury report, including two starters on their defensive line.

Following Wednesday’s practice, Detroit ruled out defensive end Josh Paschal (knee) and defensive tackles D.J. Reader (shoulder) and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring). The team also ruled out veteran left tackle Taylor Decker (knee), who also missed the Lions game against the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving with the same injury.

The Lions already took precautions for their defensive line earlier in the week, signing defensive linemen Myles Adams and Jonah Williams to their 53-man roster. They also signed veteran linebacker Kwon Alexander to their active roster, providing their defense with depth after placing Malcolm Rodriguez on injured reserve on November 30.

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Both wide receiver Romeo Doubs and cornerback Jaire Alexander were listed as limited participants in the Packers’ December 2, 2024, practice as they prepare to face their NFC North rival.

Alexander has 16 tackles this season and 2 interceptions and Doubs has 34 catches for 483 yards and 2 touchdowns this season for the Packers.

The Packers listed several other players as limited participants on the team’s practice report, including running back Josh Jacobs, who is dealing with a calf injury, but is expected to play Thursday, according to NBC Sports. Jacobs was also limited in practice before the Packers last two games with nagging injuries.

Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins (knee) did not practice Monday. Offensive lineman Josh Myers was limited with a pectoral injury, as were linebacker Isaiah McDuffie (ankle), tackle Rasheed Walker (knee) and defensive lineman Colby Wooden (shoulder). Defensive lineman Kenny Clark had a rest day, according to the Packers.

Romeo Doubs Suffered a Concussion Against the 49ers, While Jaire Alexander Is Recovering From a Knee Injury

Patrick McDermott/Getty Romeo Doubs missed the Packers Thanksgiving Day game with a concussion he suffered on this play against the 49ers.

Doubs missed Green Bay’s week 13 win on Thanksgiving against the Miami Dolphins with a concussion he suffered in the Packers victory over the San Francisco 49ers a week earlier. He is still in concussion protocol and would need to be cleared by an independent neurologist ahead of the Lions game, according to the Packers.

Alexander suffered a knee injury in Green Bay’s week 8 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He missed the week 9 game against the Lions and returned to face the Chicago Bears in week 11 but left the game after just 10 plays. Alexander told The Athletic after that game, “I had a tear on my PCL.”

Alexander added, “I stayed here the whole bye week trying to hopefully come back and make an impact for the team. It was a game-time decision at that, so we didn’t know … until, you know, a few minutes before the game if I would play or not.” He said about leaving the game against the Bears, “I felt something. … I reaggravated it going back out there and only doing 10 plays, so now we just trying to get my knee back right.”

He did not practice on Tuesday or Wednesday ahead of the Thanksgiving game.

On the Lions Side, Several Key Players Missed Practice on Monday

Gregory Shamus/Getty Lions left tackle Taylor Decker.

The Packers opponent for this week’s Thursday Night Football contest on Amazon Prime Video were without several key players on the practice field on Monday, according to the team’s practice report. Left tackle Taylor Decker remains sidelined with a knee injury. Decker missed the Lions victory over the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving. He was replaced by Dan Skipper.

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson told reporters on Monday about Decker, “He’s a guy that has played a lot of football and so if you’re telling me there’s a chance that he could make it, he might not need to practice that week.”

The Lions could be thin on the defensive line as DJ Reader (shoulder), Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring) did not practice on Thursday, according to Detroit’s report.

According to DetroitLions.com’s Tim Twentyman, “The team signed defensive lineman Myles Adams off Seattle’s practice squad, linebacker Kwon Alexander from Denver’s practice squad and defensive lineman Jonah Williams from the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad,” as defensive reinforcements because of those injuries.

The Lions also recently added 3-time All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to their practice squad. The former New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks defensive back was seen working out with Detroit’s linebackers after the signing, according to Lions Wire.

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Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wound up with big numbers (37-for-46 passing for 365 yards) but he was sacked five times and, in reality, played right into the Packers’ hands. Green Bay’s defense focused on shutting down the run game (39 yards on 14 carries) while making sure to eliminate the Dolphins’ penchant for big pass plays to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

The Packers gave up one big play to Hill, a short catch he turned into a 30-yard gain, but that came with four minutes to go in an already decided game. That was the limit of Miami’s long-yardage plays. In the end, that marked the Packers’ plan all along — make Tagovailoa into a dink-and-dunk quarterback.

In his 46 attempts, Tagovailoa threw only two passes of longer than 20 yards, and both were incomplete.

“He gets confused a little bit and just checks it down,” linebacker Isaiah McDuffie said of Tagovailoa, via The Athletic, “and our hook players come down and try to smash the carrier.”

Tua Tagovailoa Not Using Cold as Excuse

Coming into the game, one of the narratives around the Dolphins was the team’s ability to handle cold weather. Miami had won three straight games since Tagovailoa’s  return from a concussion problem earlier this season, but the Packers’ defense was too much for the Dolphins, who did themselves no favors with pre-snap penalties in the first half.

“I wouldn’t say any of the things that were out there as far the elements are going to be used as an excuse for the reason as to why we started slow,” Tagovailoa said.

He added that the Packers’ ability to make the Dolphins a one-dimensional team, taking away the run game, was the real reason they struggled.

“I think it makes it challenging for any offense to go out there and not sort of be one-dimensional, but to mix in runs and then mix in play passes with those runs,” Tagovailoa said. “Obviously tonight we were a little more pass heavy, but it does make it tougher, but sometimes that is what the game asks of you, especially when you are playing catch-up from behind.”

Packers Defense Finding Groove

Meanwhile, the defense of new coordinator Jeff Hafley continues to earn praise as the season goes on. There were certainly rough spots in the early going, but the team has not allowed an opponent to break 20 points in the last three weeks, during which the D is allowing just 15.3 points per game.

One reason for the improvement is star safety Xavier McKinney. He praised the Packers gameplan against Tagovailoa after the win, too.

“A lot of the stuff is dink and dunk, but you not going to beat us doing that,” McKinney said. “You can do that all day, but at the end of the day, we got a really good offense that’s going to put up points and eventually you going to have to take a shot down the field.”

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Still, overall, the linebacking crew in Green Bay has been only so-so. Veteran Eric Wilson is having a very good year, but the big step forward many hoped to see from 2022 first-rounder Quay Walker has not materialized in Year 3.  The same can be said for Isaiah MacDuffie, who played for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley at Boston College but has seen his snap counts slowly diminish as the year has gone on.

All this is to say that the Packers need as much depth as they can get in their linebacking rotation. And that took a hit this week when the Vikings stepped in and poached a practice-squad project the team had brought in earlier this season: former Washington first-round pick Jamin Davis.

Packers Won’t Get a Chance to See What Jamin Davis Can Do

It had been a rocky road for Davis ahead of the Packers losing him. Davis was selected with the 19th pick in the 2021 draft by the Commanders. He was a starter at linebacker for his first three NFL seasons, but was inconsistent and new coach Dan Quinn, who has a defensive background, looked at him and saw a defensive end. It was a good opportunity for Davis, especially heading into a contract year.

But it did not work out, and the Commanders released Davis in late October. The Packers then scooped him up.

It’s rare for a coach to go out of his way to praise a player the team just cut, but Quinn did just that after the Commanders let Davis go.

“Man, what a good teammate, Jamin,” Quinn said. “So, like yesterday, getting a chance to visit with him definitely left a strong impression. And sometimes there’s good that comes after the hard stuff, and he’s somebody that we’ll definitely be watching and pulling for. He really worked hard during his time here.”

The Packers could not carve out a spot on the 53-man roster for him. Now, it seems, the Vikings will.

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The 8-3 Packers did not practice the day after their dominant 38-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, and the participation updates in the injury report were estimations, according to the team. Doubs left the game in the third quarter and the Packers posted on X that he was diagnosed with a concussion.

Doubs had 3 catches for 54 yards before he was injured trying to catch a Jordan Love pass in the end zone. Doubs’ head slammed into the turf in the end zone after he was hit by Renardo Green. Doubs couldn’t make the catch, but drew a pass interference penalty that led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs.

The participation report is a sign that Doubs might not be ready to suit up against the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night. The third-year wide receiver would have to clear concussion protocol before returning to the field. Doubs missed the Packers week 5 game after he was suspended by the team for skipping practice over his role in the offense. He has 34 receptions for 483 yards and 2 touchdowns this season.

Matt LaFleur Says It Will Be a ‘Big Loss’ if Romeo Doubs Is Sidelined

During his post-game press conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters the injury was “unfortunate.” He said, “I thought Rome was really having himself a really great game. He came out and made some really critical plays, that third down and long was pretty special where he almost got out the backside. He is very, very consistent. If we don’t have, that’s a big loss.”

LaFleur said about the Packers’ depth at wide receiver, “We have a lot of guys we can throw the ball to. … We do feel we have some other guys, that’s going to open up some other opportunities for these other guys.”

Second-year wide receiver Malik Heath could be one of those options. Heath 2 catches for 15 yards, including a 4th quarter touchdown after Doubs was sidelined.

The Packers Could Be Missing Other Key Pieces for the Dolphins Game

Patrick McDermott/GettyRomeo Doubs of the Green Bay Packers is examined after being injured in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on November 24, 2024.

Doubs was not the only Packers player listed as being an estimated did not participate. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who has been dealing with a knee injury, was also on that list. As was rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who did not play against the 49ers because of a hamstring injury. Fellow linebacker Isaiah McDuffie was also listed as DNP with an ankle injury.

Along with the injuries to Doubs and on the defensive side, running back Josh Jacobs had a heavy workload against the 49ers and was listed as having a rest day. LaFleur said he has confidence in the team’s other two running backs — Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks — if they have to step up because of the quick turnaround.

“Luckily for us we do have confidence in those other two backs,” LaFleur told reporters, “I thought Emanuel Wilson ran really, really good. Brooks has given us some good carries as well. We may have to lean on those guys a little bit more next game in a couple days here, but that’s one guy that I don’t worry about, that’s Josh Jacobs. The guy is an animal, he is a dog and a dog competitor and I think he definitely relishes those opportunities.”

On the quick turnaround as a whole, LaFleur told reporters, “These guys have got to do whatever they can to get their bodies back. And that’s a physical football team we just played. So I’m sure some of the guys are going to be pretty sore, but they’re in there doing recovery right now.”

The Packers and the 5-6 Dolphins will kick off their Thursday night game at Lambeau Field at 8:20 p.m. on NBC.

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