The Packers have a couple of Seattle conundrums on their hands as they opened practice today.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur is trying to prepare an in-person quarterback and a virtual quarterback with a game plan to beat a Seahawks team coming to Lambeau Field Sunday with a 3-5 record, off a get well rout of Jacksonville, a bye week and the return of their number one QB in Russell Wilson.
Aaron Rodgers will remain in the COVID-19 quarantine protocol until Saturday. Jordan Love will get another full practice week of game plan reps. LaFleur joked today they won’t have alternating QB’s come Sunday afternoon, it’ll be one or the other.
For Rodgers to play, he not only will have to clear the last of his covid benchmarks, negative tests, no symptoms, secure an independent doctor’s approval but also pass a conditioning stress test to convince the medical staff he can withstand playing a rather exhaustive and often painful game of professional football.
Davante Adams met reporters after practice. He came off the list a week ago, practicing very little and said the 10 day layoff was a little tougher than he thought. While he did ramp up conditioning, the game itself tired him, but he’s a receiver running around a lot more than quarterbacks typically do. He thinks his number one quarterback could handle it.
Both Rodgers and Love will linked via video with the coaches in the meeting room before practice every day this week. Only Love (and Blake Bortels) will suit up for practice. Rodgers will chime back in for the post-practice video breakdown going over every plan they worked on according to LaFleur.
The starting job decision will have to be made first by the medical team and then the coaches. As LaFleur said, “if a player gets medically cleared, we usually don’t ask a lot of questions.”
Such as, ‘you ready Aaron?’.
#69 officially back on the 53.
The second conundrum involves David Bakhtiari. The Packers this afternoon officially activated him off the Physically Unable to Perform list where he’s been rehabilitating like a madman since underdoing ACL surgery in January.
Assuming he makes his return to the field Sunday as the starting left tackle, how will the domioes fall to his right along the offensive line? Elgton Jenkins was the second player meeting with reporters after practice. He hopes David returns because it makes the entire offensive line better. Jenkins looked fondly back on his 9 game run at left tackle, saying he had a lot of fun out there on the blind side. He has no idea right now if the Packers will move him inside one spot to his Pro Bowl position of left guard, get him over the ball at center or if Bakhtiari isn’t deemed ready, staying put at tackle.
Regardless, Jenkins has to prepare for as many as eight different Seahawks defensive linemen or edge rushers he could be asked to block. Elgton said it doesn’t concern him a bit.
How’s that for confidence from a second year pro?
The opening injury report for the week is out. Tight end Dominique Dafney was the only non-participant with a hamstring injury. Eric Stokes, who injured his knee in pre-game warmups at Kansas City and Kenny Clark who exited the game early with a back injury, returned on a limited basis. Equanimeous St. Brown (ankle) and Dennis Kelly (back) were also limited. Kingsley Keke wasn’t seen during the open media portion of practice but was also listed as limited coming off a concussion. Dean Lowry participated fully dealing with a hamstring pull.
Does one All Pro receiver want another?
Adams was asked plenty ab0ut and made his case for free agent Odell Beckham Jr. We learned the two are friends, not close, but they talk occasionally. Adams has been around long enough to know every available free agent that might bring the offense some impact doesn’t sign, but this is one he thinks could work:
The Packers are one of several teams that have offered Beckham Jr a veteran minimum contract for the remainder of the season. The New Orleans Saints (in his hometown state), the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams are also reportedly interested.
OBJ is mulling over his choices. Let’s see what Thursday brings.
One last note involving the Pack’s strength and conditioning coach Chris Gizzi. Who will ever forget when the linebacker sprinted out of the tunnel the American flag in the first Packer game post 9/11? Today the team nominated Gizzi for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award. It recognizes a player, coach, staff member or even almuni who demonstrate a commitment to honoring and supporting military communities. Recipients are awarded a $25,000.00 contribution to the military service charity of choice along with another in the same amount shared by programs and services among all branches.
