Green Bay Packers
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) –Under normal circumstances, Head Coach Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers would be analyzing the team’s first two preseason games in preparation for final cuts in early September.
Instead, LaFleur and his staff are digesting a Sunday scrimmage which he says was designed to help scouts and GM Brian Gutekunst get a feel for the team’s depth.
“We have to make sure we give our scouts the opportunity to evaluate those guys in certain situations, along with our coaching staff. We will continue to have communication on a daily basis and if there is something that the scouting department needs to see on one of our guys we will make sure to get that done,” he said.
Many eyes were on the team’s top two QB’s, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. LaFleur says Rodgers was his usual self.
“He is in full command at all times especially in those two-minute, ‘gotta have it’ situations. He’s done it a bunch, and we are very fortunate to have a guy that has that ability. Either to methodically move the ball downfield or hit the big plays.”
As for Love, he says like any rookie the former Utah State signal-caller had his ups and downs in the scrimmage but says he continues to compete and should be a serviceable backup this season.
“Certainly for him, I think there’s a couple of throws he’d like to have back. But for him, that was the first crack at it.”
LaFleur says there was talk of canceling Sunday’s scrimmage after it was reported that a lab in New Jersy returned dozens of false positive tests for COVID-19 leaguewide, but because the Green and Gold only had “one or two” players that would have been impacted they choose to move forward.
The Packers have already announced that their first two regular-season home games will be played in front of an empty stadium. That includes the home opener on September 20th against Detroit and their Week 4 clash with Atlanta on Monday, October 5th.
Green Bay plays four of its first six games on the road between September 13th and October 25th. That stretch also includes a bye week. The team will use that time to evaluate the details surrounding COVID-19 and guidance from local health officials and the NFL before deciding if fans will be allowed for home game #3 at Lambeau on November 1st against Minnesota.
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