One more night for a whole of jobs. The Green Bay Packers meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the third and final Pre-Season game at Arrowhead Stadium tonight, kicking off at 7:00 PM. Head Coach Matt LaFleur, for the second year in a row, will have the vast majority of his front line players go snap-less in games that don’t count. He’s counting on them being much more prepared when they do count after last year’s opening day disaster. So tonight’s contest offers the rest of the supporting cast a chance to make their case to stick in the last dress rehearsal.
When the Packers have the ball.
Jordan Love will get some more reps and Danny Etling might get to call another read option but General Manager Brian Gutekunst’s eyes will be elsewhere. The only starters going against the Chiefs will be on the offensive line and with two key players up front grinding hard to play earlier than later in the regular season, David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, the battle for backup tackle has been joined. Yosh Nijman and Royce Newman have handled the edges to this point. After a few series, we’ll see more of Caleb Jones. I’m rooting for him because if he makes the team, he’ll become the largest Packer in franchise history at 6-9 and 370 pounds, but it’s a real stretch even at that size for him to be on the final 53. Jake Hanson is the MIP of camp (Most Improved Player) in the eyes of both Aaron Rodgers and Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich. He’s held down the right guard job and could well open the season there. He hasn’t forgotten how to play center, the position he played as a late draft choice three years ago, leaving Michael Menet in a precarious position. This year’s top lineman drafted, Sean Rhyan, has struggled, he needs a strong game but as a third rounder, he’s not going anywhere. The trade of homegrown Cole VanLanen may have opened the door just a crack for 7th round pick Rasheed Walker to find a home on the practice squad.
Down the stretch they come for the number three running back slot. Patrick Taylor and Tyler Goodson are running neck and neck. Goodson has had more opportunities for production in the first two games but Taylor has a year in the system under his belt. Good games from both tonight and they both might be here next week.
Christian Watson will hopefully make his debut after coming off the PUP list. Game reps would really help the coaching staff decide if he can help the passing attack next month. The top five receivers are set. Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins will watch Watson and Romeo Doubs play tonight. Can the Packers go 7, even 8 deep? Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree, Samori Toure and even Travis Fulgham are battling for perhaps the last two spots.
The crowded tight end position should weed itself out too. Marcedes Lewis will be around to continue his mentorship of the rest while Robert Tonyan gets back to full strength. Josiah Deguara is safe. Tyler Davis is safer after a big finish to training camp. Penalties and turnovers will be overlooked because he’s still a fluid route runner and ball catcher. I’m hard pressed to believe the Packers will keep more than four unless Alize’ Mack, Sal Cannella or Nate Becker do something special.
When the Chiefs have the ball.
Some Kansas City stars will get snaps, including Patrick Mahomes. A good, final exam for the youngsters on this side. Up front, Jack Heflin’s hustle is commendable and likely to push draft pick Jonathan Ford onto the practice squad. Chris Slayton has also shown up in games but it might not be enough to crack the deepest defensive line group in years.
The linebacking and secondary battles have come down right to the wire. Inside, Krys Barnes appears safe behind De’Vondre Campbell and number one pick Quay Walker. It looks to me like Isaiah McDuffie has caught and passed Ty Summers who was drafted at the same position two years earlier. Ray Wilborn might even be neck and neck with Summers for job. McDuffie has led the team in tackles in the two pre-season games. On the edge, Jonathan Garvin, La’Darius Hamilton, Tipa Galeai and even Kobe Jones have all had their moments in training camp. At least two of those five need big moments tonight.
In the secondary, the Packers will be a handful for any passing attack with Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Eric Stokes at corner, Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos at safety. They’ll need another handful to complete the set and be the special team stars. Shermar Jean-Charles, Keisean Nixon, Rico Gafford and Kabion Ento must handle a really good Kansas City passing attack for their final exams. I talked with Kiondre Thomas this week and he’s battling a strong case of “on the bubble” blues. With Vernon Scott’s release this week, Shawn Davis worked alongside Amos with the starters while Savage recovers from his hamstring pull. Even though he’s working through a shoulder injury, Dallin Leavitt will almost certainly stick to shoulder responsibility in Rich Bisaccia’s special teams plan he’s already familiar with. Innis Gaines, Micah Abernathy, De’Vante Cross and draft pick Tariq Carpenter are all crossing their fingers.
The We-Fense.
It was not a good show last week against New Orleans with poor kickoff coverage and head scratching substitutions. One punt return play had 12 men on the field, another with 10. That’s got to get sorted out straight away. In the meantime, Amari Rodgers is poised to be the number one option on both kickoff and punt returns. That will solidify his hold on one of the wide receiver roster spots. Other receivers, running backs, linebackers and secondary players who make plays tonight will pad their overall resume. Jack Coco is not a lock to be the long snapper the Packers take into the season. Ramiz Ahmed has been an upgrade from Gabe Brkic on field goals, but Mason Crosby lies in wait. Still on the PUP list, Crosby says he is now six weeks removed from his off-season surgery. We’ve only seen him kick soccer balls on the practice field but Mason said he is striking footballs for the first time this week. He plans to increase the number and length of kicks next week and is still hopeful to be ready by September 11. He’ll have to come off PUP first however. Ahmed’s audition tape has been good enough to get looked at by other NFL teams searching for a leg.
The bottom line.
Savage is the only front line player who suffered an injury of significance during training camp. LaFleur has ensured that will be the only one with his playing time decision for the Chiefs. While the focus will be on sound execution, points on offense hopefully, stops on defense, the athletes who have a handle on their primary position responsibilities and are willing to volunteer and excel on the We-Fense, will be a part of the 2022 Green Bay Packers that will be settled by next Tuesday.
