Following a day off their feet, the Packers got moving again today with a two hour practice on Clarke Hinkle Field as the season opening game plan for the New Orleans Saints was taken from the classroom to the gridiron.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur will be taking a remarkably healthy team to Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Stadium on Sunday. The season’s first Wednesday injury report listed only three names with only one, safety Vernon Scott, not able to participate because of his hamstring injury that has sidelined him for nearly three weeks. Defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster was a limited participant dealing with a back issue and linebacker Za’Darius Smith had the same designation with the same injury. But for Smith, it’s almost been a chronic problem since the start of camp. He arrived in late July with soreness and spent the first three weeks of training camp on the physically unable to perform list. He came off it for one day before the pre-season finale to practice, but hasn’t fully participated since.
LaFleur was still hopeful he’ll be available for the Saints game. “He’s doing better,” LaFleur said before practice, “and he’ll be limited today and we’ll take it through the week.” LaFleur said they’ll know more the day after an increased workload about how he’s progressing.
Mid-week is also the day the quarterback chats.
Aaron Rodgers lets one rip at Wednesday’s practice.
Aaron Rodgers is on the verge of franchise history. When he takes the field Sunday against the Saints, he will begin his record 17th season in a Packer uniform, surpassing the 16 seasons as an active player of Bart Starr and Brett Favre.
There were more than a few folks who thought the run might end at 16 during the contentious off-season. The doubt died when Rodgers showed up for camp on time, put together a sparkling five weeks of practice and LaFleur said he’s fully engaged and ready to lead the troops.
The reigning NFL MVP spent over 25 minutes with the media in the team’s auditorium after practice. Rodgers said this isn’t just another opening day for him. A lot different from his first career start in 2008 after three years as Favre’s understudy. 2019 brought some anxiety playing the first game for a coach not named McCarthy. Considering this year’s game has had a change of venue from New Orleans to Jacksonville and against a Saints team without Drew Brees, it’ll have a different feel to it.
But Rodgers left no doubt that the controversial off-season and the uncertainty beyond this 2021 campaign is not going to derail his focus, even though the unknown will bring a different feel to the next four months.
We also heard from Davante Adams after practice. On the expectations for the team, Adams said, “This is the most determined team I’ve been around.” He’s no longer expecting anything to happen on a new contract extension now that the season is about to begin. Adams said both he and the quarterback aren’t going to think about the what if’s after the season, all their energy will be on the game at hand.
Rookie center Josh Myers was next at the podium and he feels he has the offense down to the point of being very comfortable snapping to an MVP, despite a couple of bumpy moments during camp.
Secondary coach Jerry Gray said they haven’t officially named the “star” position starter but Chandon Sullivan appears first in line. Gray said Jaire Alexander also handled the role and the defensive passing game coordinator has confidence in all of his DB’s. Gray said he’s unafraid to play top draft pick Eric Stokes because he’s proven in camp he can line up with NFL receivers.
The players elected captains for the season today but LaFleur said prior to practice he wasn’t aware of the final tabulation. If I had to take a guess it would be Rodgers on offense, Adrian Amos on defense and Mason Crosby on special teams.
The team will have it’s only padded practice of the week on Thursday.
LaFleur had the funniest line of the day when talking about preparing for what’s expected to be a steamy afternoon in Florida. He said there’s no way to replicate 90 degrees with high humidity in Green Bay in September. The team has been stressed to hydrate leading up to the trip but when asked about how much hydration will be enough? LaFleur quipped, “I woudn’t say there’s a set amount but certainly every time they pee you want it to look clear.”
