The Green Bay Packers put the stinky season opener behind them with two come from behind victories. They were down at halftime against the Detroit Lions and buried them after intermission. The Packers were down against San Francisco with only :37 to play and broke their hearts with a walk off win. Every team has to learn how to win each season and the 2021 Packers have banked valuable lessons back to back.
Yes, their stars have delivered. Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Mason Crosby, Jaire Alexander are making big plays but it’s the role players that have helped get the corner turned early this season.
Consider Yosh Nijman. The quiet, athletic offensive tackle has been biding his time well down the depth chart but when called last Sunday with starting left tackle Elgton Jenkins down, he stepped up. Even Nijman admitted he was “a little crazy” when the game began. Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis noticed his nervousness before kickoff while talking with Robert Tonyan. Lewis only made eye contact with Nijman and realized the kid needed encouragement from the veteran. Lewis simply told him, “you don’t have to do it alone, we’ve got your back.”
Ty Summers and Oren Burks, two guys who work up a sweat only on special teams, had to fill in for the concussed Krys Barnes against the 49ers. They combined for 4 tackles and a sack.
Then there’s Allen Lazard. He caught a 42 yard go route on the first third down of the game in Santa Clara, but was never even targeted again the rest of the night. Yet he made an impact however he could. When the Packers kickoff cover team ruptured for a 68 yard runback to help set up the Niners first touchdown, Lazard went to Special Teams Coordinator Maurice Drayton and wanted in. “I have a few more reps in me”, he told him. On the two second half kickoffs with Lazard joining the cover unit, San Francisco couldn’t get the ball past the 20 yard line. A non-factor in the passing game on offense, Lazard was more than willing to do the dirty work. He closed down star defensive end Nick Bosa on the Aaron Jones touchdown run. Why is a wide receiver so willing and effective at becoming a tight end, even an offensive lineman to block a much bigger defender? Lazard said this week, “I guess I just care more.”
Those kind of non-highlight reel contributions are not lost on a three time NFL Most Valuable Player.
And leave it to the 37 year old, 16 year veteran Lewis to explain why role players mean as much to the success of a team as do the superstars. The wise old sage of the locker room met the media on Thursday to explain why guys like Lazard are the perfect example of how all 53 players are needed to win.
The “Big Dog” knows of what he speaks for he has been on teams where there were no rules for roles:
It’s a long season and only three games in, all the players on the roster are understanding how valuable they are in whatever role they have, from kicking game winning field goals, catching touchdowns, sacking quarterbacks, or being willing to run down a punt or simply test a starter to help them improve while practicing on the scout team.
The Packers added running back A.J. Dillon to their injury report on Thursday as he was limited at practice with a sore back. Jenkins (ankle), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) and Kevin King (concussion) did not participate for the second straight day. That could signal another start at left tackle for Nijmon who would go up against veteran Cameron Heyward of the Steelers. If MVS can’t go, you’ll see more of Lazard and perhaps Randall Cobb in the passing game and Eric Stokes may strengthen his grip on the starting job at corner if King misses another game.
Barnes has come out of the concussion protocol and practiced on a limited basis, indicating he should be available. Aaron Jones was also limited with a sore ankle as was safety Vernon Scott with a hamstring pull while Josh Myers was a full participant even with a finger injury.
