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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love’s up-and-down preseason continued in Saturday’s finale. Love kicked off the game by directing the offense to a scoring drive, although he went 0-for-3 in the air. He then led a 15-play touchdown drive by going 7-for-10 but missed wideout Christian Watson on his only attempt beyond 5-7 yards. Throughout camp, the narrative around Love has been one of cautious optimism as he hones his fundamentals. Most of his throws have been short and safe—a strategy Coach Matt LaFleur approves of at this juncture. “With the passing game, it’s, ‘Are you making the correct decision? Are you throwing within the rhythm and timing of the play? And are you making accurate throws?’ Up to this point, he’s done a really nice job of that.” Despite this conservative approach, Love did unleash a beautiful deep ball to Romeo Doubs in the previous game, showcasing some untapped potential.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon form a near-perfect complementary duo, accounting for 55% and 43% of team touches last year, respectively. Any preseason drama has zeroed in on backup options where special teams’ skills hold significant value. Undrafted rookie Emanuel Wilson got an extended look, carrying the ball 38 times across three preseason games. Wilson ended the preseason with the second most rushing yards across the league, thanks in large part to an 80-yard scamper and an impressive seven missed tackles. That said, he is no lock for the final roster. Last preseason, Patrick Taylor beat out all comers to hang on as the No. 3, mainly for his special teams value. Packer Central’s Bill Huber expects the same outcome this time around, with Taylor beating out both Wilson and the speedy Tyler Goodson.
Wide Receivers
The receiving corps has undergone a major overhaul in the last few seasons. Now, as the offense looks to rebuild around Love’s talents, there’s a logjam. Christian Watson has emerged as the closest thing to a No. 1 receiver; his blend of size (6-foot-4), speed (4.36 40-time), and playmaking ability (17.1% touchdown rate as a rookie) is compelling. Fellow second-year receiver Romeo Doubs didn’t suit up for the Seattle game due to a hamstring injury, though Coach LaFleur called it “precautionary” and seemed unconcerned. Behind them, other young receivers are vying for spots. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky expects the team to strongly consider keeping seven receivers. Rookie Jayden Reed was buzzworthy early in camp and then made a handful of memorable plays in the preseason as the slot receiver. Samori Toure worked with the first team for much of camp but played into the fourth quarter during the preseason. He may not make the final roster if the final spot comes down to him or Malik Heath. Demovsky notes that the Packers have kept an undrafted rookie on the Week 1 roster for 18 straight seasons, which bodes well for Heath.
Tight Ends
Those who let their imaginations run wild when the team drafted Luke Musgrave in the second round are feeling emboldened. He has earned the starting job, which is highly unusual for rookie tight ends given the difficulty of adjusting to the rigors of the NFL as both a blocker and route-runner. Musgrave can do things that incumbents Robert Tonyan Jr, Josiah Deguara, and Tyler Davis haven’t. The combination of his natural speed and physicality are the draws. “We’ve just got to keep getting him the ball, keep feeding him, and see what he can do after the catch,” Jordan Love said. “He’s going to be a really good player.” Deguara has value as a blocker and can contribute offensively in an H-back role. Another rookie, Tucker Kraft, should find a reserve role.
Kickers
Rookie sixth-round kicker Anders Carlson had an extra point blocked but made both of his field goal attempts, including one from 57 yards that looked like it would have been good from 60+. The team will likely start the season with him and be patient as he replaces Mason Crosby, who had been the team's kicker since 2007.
Defense
Coordinator Joe Barry‘s defense wants to be known league-wide as an aggressive, punishing unit. The first step to that is fine-tuning a pass rush that finished eighth in pressure rate last year but ranked a meager 27th in sacks. There’s optimism that the current crop of edge rushers will solve the puzzle. “Keeping six edge rushers is very much in play for the Packers,” points out Packers Wire’s Paul Bretl, given the addition of rookie Lukas Van Ness and Rashan Gary’s return to health.
Returners
Keisean Nixon will be Green Bay's top returner, though rookie Jayden Reed may have the opportunity to field punts as well.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
The new quarterback hierarchy of Jordan Love and Sean Clifford made its Lambeau Field debut Saturday night against the New England Patriots, and the results were better than expected. Bill Belichick started his first-team defense, yet Love and Clifford completed 18-of-27 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown without an interception. The Packers scored on three of the first six drives before Isaiah Bolden’s injury ended the game early. It was encouraging to see Love take shots downfield accurately. The key play of the first half was a 42-yard sideline laser to Romeo Doubs that helped set up a scoring pass. Packers Wire’s Paul Bretl points out that Love’s night was far from flawless but showed real promise, particularly in his fundamentals. “Just as in practice, the Patriots secondary was able to take away Love’s initial reads,” Bretl writes. “But he did well going through his progressions and protecting the ball.” As for Clifford, he’s almost surely locked down the No. 2 job going 33-of-45 for 345 yards in the preseason.
Running Backs
Lead back Aaron Jones has nothing to prove this preseason, and his only job is staying healthy. In both games thus far, Jones has only played a snap or two before handing things off to A.J. Dillon. Jones is understandably more valuable, but Dillon remains an essential part of the equation. The real drama lies further down the depth chart, and undrafted rookie Emanuel Wilson won’t go away. Wilson gained 63 yards against the Patriots, which was a worthy follow-up to his monstrous 111-yard, two-touchdown display against the Bengals. He’s competing with two holdovers: Patrick Taylor, who’s turned 16 preseason touches into just 44 yards, and Tyler Goodson, who’s yet to take a regular-season snap. Taylor found the end zone Saturday night but he’s yet to show much explosiveness as a runner. Fortunately, he matters on special teams.
Wide Receivers
The team’s revamped passing game goes beyond Aaron Rodgers’ departure: the receiving corps has also been shaken up. Christian Watson is the No. 1, given his massive size and speed mismatch potential. Fellow second-year man Romeo Doubs was inconsistent last year, but he has made one highlight play after another this summer, including an impressive 42-yarder Saturday night. Rookie Jayden Reed, who found the end zone against New England, looks like the Week 1 starter in the slot. That would lock in the top three, but it’s murky beyond that, with a handful of role players seeking out roles. Perhaps undrafted rookie Malik Heath, who has turned heads in both games, made enough of a dent to stick. Heath had three catches and a highlight-reel block in the opener and then led the team with 5 catches for 75 yards against the Patriots.
Tight Ends
Luke Musgrave’s first preseason has been an overwhelming success. Acme Packing Company’s Justis Mosqueda points out, “Just like last week, Musgrave played every single snap with Love on Saturday. Nothing is in stone yet, but Musgrave is the heavy, heavy favorite to be the number one tight end on the team come the regular season.” Green Bay drafted the huge (6-foot-7, 255 pounds) and fast (4.61 40-yard dash) Musgrave to be a mismatch up the seams. Preseason hyperbole is in full swing, but Musgrave did draw some eye-raising comparisons last week. Mosqueda noted that Joseph Deguara has moved into a hybrid fullback role, so fellow rookie Tucker Kraft is getting plenty of snaps from the slot.
Kickers
Rookie sixth-round pick Anders Carlson had a strong night against the Patriots, converting two extra point attempts and successfully making a 52-yard field goal just before the end of the first half. Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia praised Carlson's mental fortitude, which is a positive indication that they will allow him to weather the highs and lows.
Defense
Two-time (2020 and 2022) All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander has earned his reputation as a true shutdown corner, capable of controlling matchups against the league’s best receivers. But Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson fanned the flames last week by calling Alexander, whom he’s faced four times, nothing to worry about. “That statement of him playing man and beating me up [in Week 16 of last season] is very not true,” Jefferson went on. “And if you see the film, you can see it.” Alexander’s dominance is crucial to the Packers’ bend-but-don’t-break defense, which has looked uneven thus far in the preseason.
Offensive Line
Left tackle David Bakhtiari has been on a pitch count this preseason, and Yosh Nijman often takes his place, with Zach Tom replacing Nijman at right tackle. This arrangement provides opportunities for depth players like Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta, and Rasheed Walker. After missing six games for violating the league's substance abuse policy, 2022 third-round pick Sean Rhyan is having an extremely strong camp. With standout guard Elgton Jenkins among their strengths, the Packers' offensive line ranks 7th overall in our preseason rankings.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
The new starter, Jordan Love, continues to receive up-and-down reviews in camp. His preseason debut was mostly solid: Love completed 7 of his ten throws, though he managed just 46 yards and missed a big completion to rookie Luke Musgrave. However, his inconsistencies have been noted. Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse pointed out last week Love’s issues with timing and placement, mixing strong plays with shaky ones and leaving big gains on the field. Love came close to hitting Christian Watson deep up the sideline in the opener, but his underthrow was broken up by a sprinting Bengals safety. Behind Love, rookie Sean Clifford has locked up the No. 2 job. Clifford threw two interceptions against Cincinnati, but he also went 20-for-26 and drew praise from Love and head coach Matt LaFleur. "To see him not be fazed by those [interceptions], I thought it showed something,“ head coach Matt LaFleur said post-game. “You can't coach that. You can talk about it all you want, but it's intrinsic. He possesses that."
Running Backs
Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who are as entrenched as any 1-2 backfield duo, barely saw the field in Friday’s preseason opener. The pair claimed 98% of the team’s running back touches in 2022; there’s little left to learn about them. Given that volume, the real intrigue lies down the depth chart, as some young back would step into hefty usage in case of an injury. Just last week, it was assumed that holdover Tyler Goodson had secured the No. 3 role, but undrafted rookie Emanuel Wilson joined the fray with a dazzling NFL debut. Wilson played behind Goodson but promptly ripped off runs of 80, 14, and 11 yards (he also had an 18-yarder nullified by penalty). Both Goodson and Patrick Taylor are experienced in the Packers system, but neither did much against the Bengals.
Wide Receivers
The team’s receiving corps is being revamped in the image of Jordan Love, with no need for Aaron Rodgers’ approval. Christian Watson, standing tall at 6-foot-5 and boasting a 4.36 dash time, possesses the most WR1 traits, but even he’s aware this will be a balanced, varied attack. “I think we’ve got a lot of talent and a lot of weapons in our offense, and we can use that to get the guys the ball in a lot of different ways,” he said last week. “They have to respect the outside, the slot, the running back, and the quarterback as well. I think it’ll help all of us get the ball, even if we’re spreading it around a little bit.” Behind Watson, it looks safe to pencil in Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, and rookie Jayden Reed for prominent roles. Reed, for his part, looks to have already locked down the Randall Cobb role. “They basically have found a guy who can go into the slot and can make a living playing ping pong in the middle,” Peter King observed last week. “He’s not a big guy, but they are counting on Reed to be a good intermediate target with [Watson and Doubs] on the outside.”
Tight Ends
The reconstructed unit took a hit on Friday as Tyler Davis was lost for the season to an ACL tear. With Robert Tonyan Jr and Marcedes Lewis both leaving for the Bears this offseason, all eyes are on rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Neither made much of an impact against the Bengals, but they did combine for six targets on a night that saw fourteen different players targeted. Packers Wire’s Kruse notes that Musgrave saw only 12 snaps on Friday but was the No. 1 option on a pair of early throws. “Sky is the limit for him,” quarterback Jordan Love said after the game. “He’s a really good player, an explosive player, he’s really fast… we just have to keep feeding him and seeing what he can do after the catch.”
Kickers
Rookie sixth-round kicker Anders Carlson carried forward his momentum from a successful Family Night into the first preseason game. He made three extra points and a 45-yard field goal. However, his performance took a hit when he missed two extra-point attempts towards the end of the game. Head coach Matt LaFleur said, “I don’t want to look too far into it. It’s one game. As long as you learn from it and get better and make the necessary adjustments, then a lot of times you come back stronger from it.” Nonetheless, if Carlson doesn't address his performance issues in the next two preseason games, the Packers might explore other options before Week 1.
Defense
Under coordinator Joe Barry, the Green Bay defense looks poised to take another step in terms of aggressiveness. And Barry’s preferred place to start is the secondary, where he’s pushing tight, persistent on-ball coverage. The Packers certainly have the personnel, with Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, and Eric Stokes joining All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander. “We want to be up close in guys’ faces; we want to challenge and make throws tight,” Douglas said last week. “So far, that’s what [Barry] is doing.”
Returners
Despite not earning the job until October, Keisean Nixon led the NFL in kickoff return yards last season. He re-signed and will continue leading the return units. Rookie Jayden Reed could also contribute.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
Few quarterbacks have been as polarizing through early camp as new Packers starter Jordan Love. Things started rough, with Packer Central’s Bill Huber calling the offensive unit “the loser all [the first] five days,” thanks largely to their red-zone and hurry-up struggles. “There have been some positive moments almost every day,” Huber wrote of the air attack after the first week. “But, in totality, it’s been a slog.” By last weekend, beat writers were discussing his “wow throws” and the offense’s “best two-minute drill of camp.” On Saturday, Love and top wideout Christian Watson carved up the field for two splash plays, including an impressive touchdown strike. For what it’s worth, the team has yet to add a notable veteran backup behind Love, even releasing camp body Danny Etling last week. There’s clearly ample post-Aaron Rodgers confidence here.
Running Backs
With Jordan Love taking over the reins, Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon know they’ll be called upon to lead the offense. Coach Matt LaFleur has long been creative with the ground game, and he continues to find ways to utilize Jones and Dillon innovatively. Thus far in camp, the duo is being used all over the field: sometimes they’re sent wide, and sometimes Dillon plays a blocking h-back role in front of Jones. They should dominate the backfield whenever healthy, so special teams will likely determine the rest of the depth chart. Tyler Goodson, star of last year’s camp, continues to pressure the coaches to squeeze him into a spot. If nothing else, Goodson is running well and showing his fit within coach Matt LaFleur’s offense. His chief competition looks like rookie Lew Nichols, who excelled in school, albeit against FCS competition.
Wide Receivers
Finally, Packers fans have their youth movement at receiver. When Aaron Rodgers went to the Jets, he peeled Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb along with him, and most of the Packers’ other pet projects of the last half-decade (Amari Rodgers, Jake Kumerow, Equanimeous St. Brown) are elsewhere as well. Jordan Love will launch with size/speed phenom Christian Watson as his No. 1, and early reports are favorable. Last week, beat writer Paul Bretl labeled Watson his top standout performer through the first seven practices. “What’s unique about Christian,” coach Matt LaFleur said, “you can line him up at the Z and tell him the next play when somebody might out, hey you got to go play F, or you got to go play X, and he doesn’t blink.” Watson’s versatility points to a massive 2023 role, but Carmen Vitali warns us not to sleep on fellow young starter Romeo Doubs. Last week’s leaping, step-back catch over All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander was a sight to behold. Rookie Jayden Reed, who impressed in early practices, looks like the clear frontrunner over Samori Toure for the No. 3 job. “He wants to be one of the guys,” Watson said of Reed’s first week. “I think he’s come in and took ahold of the playbook, got right on the mental side, and obviously still room for improvement. He’s come a long way for sure throughout this offseason.”
Tight Ends
The youth movement is underway at tight end, with Robert Tonyan Jr and Marcedes Lewis both in Chicago and a pair of rookies atop the depth chart. Luke Musgrave, a first-round prospect in most eyes, was a second-round steal and was just called by his head coach “the biggest fast guy I’ve ever seen.” But NFL tight ends (almost always) have to block, which has never been Musgrave’s calling card. In Round 3, they added Tyler Kraft, who brings more in-line experience than Musgrave does. Both rookies spent the summer working with legends at Tight End University, and the team has yet to add any veteran help to the room. At least one looks poised to flirt with fantasy relevance off the bat.
Kickers
Rookie Anders Carlson doesn’t have any competition currently on the roster, and after his first time kicking in Lambeau Field, the Packers probably won’t be in a hurry to add anyone. Carlson went 9-of-10 on field goals, the only miss coming from 50 yards after a bad snap. He made three kicks from over 50 yards and redeemed himself after starting camp 16-for-27 on field goal attempts, which must have been troubling to the team before his performance at Family Night, which was good enough that most deemed him the Player of the Night.
Defense
The Packers defensive line has been the talk of camp thus far. Kenny Clark is an established stud, while Devonte Wyatt looks poised for a Year 2 leap. But the overall rotation, including rookies Lukas Van Ness, Colby Wooden, and Karl Brooks, keeps turning heads against the in-transition offense. Coach Matt LaFleur saw fit to call out the “juice” that Brooks and Wooden have brought to the front seven. “They are going to get a lot of minutes, a lot of snaps. It’s going to be a gradual process, but those are two guys we are going to have to count on.”
