One defensive starter is getting better but two big playmakers on offense are still an uncertainty as the Green Bay Packers are about to wrap up their preparations for Sunday’s match against the Atlanta Falcons.
Linebacker Quay Walker, who suffered a concussion just as he crossed the goal line to finish his 37 yard pick six against the Chicago Bears last Sunday, was back on the practice field today. His injury report designation improved from a non-participant to limited participation, joining the inside backers for fundamental drills during the portion of practice open to reporters. Head Coach Matt LaFleur was quick to point out that Walker hasn’t cleared the league’s concussion protocol just yet but it was a step further out of the fog. Walker’s big play was talked about by Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry during his weekly visit with reporters after practice. The 2022 first round draft choice hasn’t intercepted a pass since he was in high school. Barry said the two discussed that fact just last week in practice and then lo and behold, Walker all but buried the Bears with his big play. The coaching staff is hopeful Walker will be cleared by Sunday but if not, Isaiah McDuffie will likely work alongside De’Vondre Campbell.
Barry said his unit will have their hands full with a Falcons offense that is built to run. They have a big, experienced offensive line, groomed for the power zone scheme with a rookie running back behind them that Barry calls elite, even after one game, this year’s first round pick Bijon Robinson from Texas. Robinson scored his first touchdown on a nifty and powerful run after a catch in the right flat. Barry said he was wowed by Robinson as a Longhorn when he was scouting defensive players who went up against him at Texas.
It’s hard to tell if the tender hamstrings of Christian Watson and Aaron Jones are healing. Both players were listed as non-participants on Thursday. They stretched with the team inside the Don Hutson Center but did not join the players once outside on Clarke Hinkle Field. It was two weeks ago today that Watson pulled his hamstring that forced him to miss the season opener. Romeo Doubs was able to play two weeks after his similar injury. Jones felt his hamstring “bite” as he put it after scoring on his 35 yard touchdown catch and run at Solider Field. The fact he was able to don a helmet and do some work was encouraging according to LaFleur but if he isn’t able to go this weekend, the offensive game plan will take a big hit. The running game burden will fall squarely on the quads of A.J. Dillon. Last week, Patrick Taylor was elevated off the practice squad to be the third back in Chicago, even though undrafted rookie free agent Emmanuel Wilson was already on the 53 man roster. Wilson was among the inactive players partly because Taylor has more experience on special teams. I asked Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich today if Wilson is ready to help if called and he said yes. The big play production he delivered during the pre-season has the coaching staff confident he could assist the run game if needed.
A second week without Watson would also deny the offense a home run threat. The passing game got along well enough without against Chicago, can they do it again Sunday? Doubs is a week healthier and the rest of the young cast all chipped in when given the opportunity. Whether it was Jayden Reed on third down or the willingness of Samori Toure and Dontayvion Wicks to handle more of the dirty work, like blocking well downfield on the 51 yard screen to Jones. LaFleur wasn’t thrilled with the technique but didn’t mind the aggressiveness of the rookie Wicks who got flagged for a holding call in his debut.
Everyone knew the Packers took a young team into this season but now it’s official. Data released by the NFL confirms the Packers are indeed the league’s youngest team based on the opening day roster, a nubile 25.3 years of age on average. The average years of NFL experience are exactly 3.00 years, the greenest team in the league. The Packers had a league high 17 rookies or first year players on the roster. Not only that, this year’s Packer team is the tallest and heaviest in the NFC, averaging 6.25 feet and 248.89 pounds per player. Let’s see how this big, tall and young team fares in week two.
