GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Coming off their mini-bye, two weeks before their full bye, the Green Bay Packers had an awful lot going on during Thanksgiving week leading up to Sunday night’s test against the NFL leading Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
There was a bug that swept through the locker room, a bum thumb admission, another edge rusher was brought on board and a disappointing third round draft choice had his rookie season come to an unceremonious end. A handful of players were kept home during the week after what appeared to be a bout of the flu made it’s way through the roster. On Friday’s injury report, which listed 18 players, a half dozen were designated with “illness” but only Randall Cobb was a limited participant at the week’s final practice. The only player ruled out for Sunday was wide receiver Romeo Doubs because of his high ankle sprain suffered a month ago. Doubs was the only non-participant on Friday. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who suffered a bruise to his kneecap against the Buffalo Bills, forcing him to miss the last three games, returned to practice on a limited basis and is listed as doubtful for Sunday. The only questionable players were David Bakhtiari and Shemar Jean-Charles. The remaining 14 players on the injury report had no designation and are expected to play. Aaron Rodgers was among those 14 and on Wednesday, finally admitted that indeed his thumb was broken on that fateful hail mary pass against the Giants in London. Rodgers said surgery was never a consideration and he doesn’t think it will be needed once the season ends. He didn’t think the pain has impacted his accuracy which has been and up down since. Against the Cowboys, when he said the pain was perhaps the worst, he produced a 14- of 20 game with three touchdown passes. Rodgers said he’s played with more problematic injuries in the past, from a knee sprain to a calf strain. The long weekend helped the discomfort and he thinks the full bye week will put the discomfort behind him for good.
Offensive tackle Caleb Jones finally came off the Non-Football Illness list and returned to practice this week after battling a case of mononucleosis.
The new arrival is linebacker Justin Hollins, a 4th year veteran who was claimed on Wednesday off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams. Hollins was a 5th round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2019 but was released and spent the past three years in L.A. where he played in 34 games, recording seven and a half sacks. With Rashan Gary out for the year with a torn ACL, the Packers were looking for additional edge rushing help behind Preston Smith and rookie Kingsley Enegbare.
Running back Patrick Taylor was released on Wednesday but returned after the holiday, rejoining the team on the practice squad. To make room, the Packers released tight end Josh Babicz.
Finally, third round pick Sean Rhyan, the guard from UCLA was suspended six games by the NFL on Friday for violating the policy on performance enhancing substances. Rhyan has appeared in only one game, he dressed but did not play in five others and was inactive for the other five. The league statement says Rhyan can return to active roster after the regular season finale on Monday, January 9.
Now, on to the ballgame as the 4-7 Packers get ready to meet the 9-1 Eagles. After enjoying first round playoff byes the last couple of years, the Packers post-season, for all intents and purposes, begins this weekend.
When the Packers have the ball.
Green Bay will be facing one of the stingiest and opportunistic defenses in the league. Philadelphia ranks second in total defense, second in pass defense, allowing 178.4 yards per game. They generate plenty of pressure up front with 33 sacks which has allowed its secondary to pilfer 13 interceptions this season, led by C.J. Gardner-Johnson with a league high 6. Aaron Rodgers pretty well summed up the challenge this week by saying we have to run the ball, get it out of my hand early, with protection and the receivers have to get open. Simple right? If Philly does have a weakness, it would be controlling the ground game. Running Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon right at the formidable front of Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat and Javon Hargrave will have to keep the offense in favorable second and third down situations. If they’re behind the sticks, Hargrave, with seven sacks and Hasson Reddick coming off the edge with seven and a half, will make things difficult. The Eagle rotation up front has veteran playmakers in reserve, signing former 49er Linval Joseph before the season and acquiring Robert Quinn from the Bears at the trade deadline and last week, adding former Lion nemesis Ndamukong Suh. Giving Christian Watson time to stretch the secondary or create space for underneath routes will require a big effort from the offensive line. Look for play action, keeps or roll outs for Rodgers to get a precious few more seconds to find targets. The Eagle defensive backs have gambled on some of their interceptions because of the relentless pressure and passing accuracy could result in big plays if they gamble and lose.
When the Eagles have the ball.
Jalen Hurts has to be in the conversation for the MVP this year. He’s thrown for 2407 yards with 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions and he’s also rushed for 440 yards and 8 more scores. Hurts and Miles Sanders (757 yards, 6 TD’s) have accounted for almost 70 percent of Philly’s rushing attack. Head Coach Nick Sirianni often calls run only plays for Hurts, unlike most of the other run oriented QB’s like Justin Fields. The Packers will need to be very disciplined up front to contain Hurts. As Dean Lowry told me, the muscles will be important to disengage from offensive linemen but the eyes will be even more imperative to not allow Hurts to escape. The Eagles drafted wide receiver DeVonta Smith 0ut of Alabama in the first round last year and added unrestricted free agent A.J Brown from Tennessee this off-season. They have combined for 101 receptions and 9 touchdowns on the year. The busted coverages which reared their ugly head last week against the Titans will have to get cleaned up or more explosive plays will be on the way. Philadelphia’s offense has been starting slowly in the past couple of games and if the Packers can somehow jump in front and reduce the reliance on the run game, the contest could stay competitive into the second half.
The bottom line.
Six years ago, the Packers were sitting at 4-6 when Rodgers uttered the infamous “run the table” line. That run started in Philly. Now at 4-7 Rodgers wasn’t quite so bold but did say “why not?” another run. It will have to get started at Lincoln Financial Field. One more loss could take the fight out of the Pack the rest of the way. It will take a supreme effort. Just can’t see it happened.
I like the Eagles, 23-20.
