The two week run up to the start of the 2021 NFL Regular Season began with a curveball thrown the Packers’ way.
Hurricane Ida made a mess of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, forcing the Saints to Dallas to continue practicing. After Head Coach Sean Payton announced on Tuesday they’d likely have to stay in Texas for a month, it was clear the opening day game against the Packers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome wasn’t going to happen.
Wednesday morning, the NFL announced the game is being moved to TIAA Bank Stadium in Jacksonville, the home of the Jaguars who will open on the road. The September 12 kickoff will remain at 3:25 PM CDT. From a loud venue in air conditioned comfort, the Packers and Saints will now tangle on neutral ground with who knows how many fans in the stands and under a hot, humid Florida sun.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur said today we’ll adjust but first, our thoughts are with everybody in New Orleans who is dealing with the storm’s aftermath.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst finally met the media this morning after cutting his roster to 53 and bringing back 16 for the initial practice squad.
The most eye catching cut was 4th year punter J.K. Scott. Drafted out of Alabama in 2018, Scott never to seemed to find consistency and Gutekunst had been keeping his eye on a former Buffalo Bill who was trying to land a job in Los Angeles with the Rams this summer. Corey Bojorquez was acquired in a Tuesday trade with the teams swapping 6th and 7th round draft choices in 2023. Green Bay giving up the 6th for the new leg and a 7th. Gutekunst explained the move.
Bojorquez averaged 50.4 yards a punt for the Bills last year, including some cold weather games which was attractive. In 7 pre-season snaps for L.A., he averaged 51.4 without giving up a single return yard. It wasn’t good enough to unseat incumbent Johnny Hekker and the Rams found a taker with the Packers.
By the time the team was on Ray Nitschke Field for a padded practice, the first members of the practice squad had joined them.
The list includes quarterback Kurt Benkert, local product Cole Van Lanen along with Ben Braden and Jacob Capra on the offensive line. Receivers Equanimeous St. Brown, Juwann Winfree and Chris Blair have returned. The others are running back Patrick Taylor, tight end Bronson Kaufusi, linebackers Tipa Galeai and Ray Wilborn, defensive linemen Abdullah Anderson and Willington Previllon, defensive backs Kabion Ento and Innis Gaines and kicker J.J. Molson.
At today’s workout, veteran tackle Dennis Kelly returned after missing the last 10 days of camp. Za’Darius Smith (back), Tyler Lancaster (elbow) and Vernon Scott (hamstring) were held out.
The team will practice again on Thursday before LaFleur gives them a long weekend off, returning on Labor Day.
