One back was back and secondary juggling could be coming as the Green Bay Packers continued preparing for a visit from the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The champs will bring an AFC West leading 8-3 record to Lambeau Field to face the 5-6 Packers in the prime time, Sunday Night Football show kicking off at 7:20 PM.
When the practice week began, Patrick Taylor, just recently plucked off the New England Patriots practice squad to re-join a club he’d spent three years with, was the only rostered running back out there. He was joined by practice squad running backs Ellis Merriweather and a third time signee, James Robinson.
Aaron Jones is still on the mend from a sprained MCL suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers and he’s still a couple weeks away. Jones stretched with the team but stayed inside to work with the rehab group. Emmanuel Wilson is on injured reserve after his freak shoulder injury that happened just minutes after Jones went down.
A.J. Dillon’s back in line.
Much to the relief of backfield coach Ben Sirmans, A.J. Dillon was back at it after sitting out Wednesday. The team is being careful with Dillon’s groin injury, still listing him as limited, but a step up. He took part in drills and I caught up with him briefly in the locker room after practice. He said yesterday was the first practice he’s missed in three years. He hasn’t missed a game and doesn’t plan to start Sunday night. While the groin isn’t 100%, Dillon believes he’ll be able to go. While finishing up our chat, Dillon said the worst part of his day was coming while he slowly pulled off a chunk of heavy duty compression tape from you know where.
The only other players who didn’t participate today were wide receiver Jayden Reed with a chest injury and defensive back Robert Rochelle who’s calf injury downgraded him from limited to out. Reed said after practice he hasn’t had a setback per se, it’s just been slow to come around and he still hopes it’ll be better by the weekend. Even as a rookie, if he doesn’t practice all week, Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich said Reed is far enough along to play without practice reps.
Even with Rochelle out, the secondary drill lines were as long as they’ve been in a long time. Jaire Alexander, Rudy Ford, and Eric Stokes were all listed as limited while Darnell Savage was a full participant making it even more likely he’ll officially come off Injured Reserve and finally get back onto the 53 man roster. Savage has been out with a calf injury since the Denver game. Ford was listed with both his nagging bicep and a new groin injury. Alexander last played against the Rams when he injured his shoulder lunging to break up a pass. Both Head Coach Matt LaFleur and Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry weren’t about to disclose how the secondary will line up against Patrick Mahomes Sunday night. If Alexander’s ready, he’d team with Carrington Valentinue, sending Corey Ballentine back to special teams duty. The safety position is a bit more unclear. Ford’s replacement, Jonathan Owens has been solid, even spectacular with his 27 yard fumble return touchdown against Detroit to go along with his team high 12 tackles. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Owens out there against the Chiefs with Ford and Savage slowly building up snap counts.
The rest of the limited players among the 15 on the injury report were De’Vondre Campbell, Kenny Clark, Josiah Deguara, Rashan Gary and Dontayvion Wicks. Savage along with Keisean Nixon and Devonte Wyatt were the trio of full participants.
It was coordinator day today as well. Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia went first and was asked about the point after touchdown adventures of rookie kicker Anders Carlson. He’s missed a PAT in each of the last two games and also had one blocked in Pittsburgh. Bisaccia said Carlson has been diligent about understanding what went awry, how to fix it and focus on the next swing, he’ll grow through it. The most interesting part of the conversation with Bisaccia was over the team considering deploying a free kick at the end of the first half against the Lions. After fair catching a punt at the end of either half, a team can elect to fair kick the ball from that point, without a rush, and count the three points if good. It brought back one of my first memories of watching the Packers at Lambeau as a child when in 1968, the Chicago Bears did just that and Mac Percival’s kick was good beating Green Bay 13-10. Not aware of the rule, I didn’t understand how the Bears could do that and I was teary eyed on my walk home from that game. Bisaccia said they tried the 63 yard kick as a regular field goal instead because of the complex rules involving a free kick. The ball has to be held, it can’t be placed on a tee and the kicker can take as long of a run up as he wants instead of the rhythm steps of a normal field goal. If there’s time on the clock, the clock will move once the ball is kicked. Just as Carlson’s miss in Detroit could be returned (to mid-field much to Bisaccia’s chagrin), so can a free kick but if the ball goes through the end zone without getting touched, it’s spotted from the point of the kick. That was something Bisaccia didn’t want to risk. I haven’t seen a free kick tried since that ’68 Bears game but Bisaccia believes Bill Parcells tried it during his New York Giants days.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry spent most of his time explaining how difficult it is to have a plan in place for Mahomes who often goes off the script by design or survival to extend plays. We saw it plenty with Aaron Rodgers over the years but Barry believes Mahomes is the true master. He thinks it’s because the quarterback and receivers are almost in sync amidst chaos in understanding where to go and how Mahomes can find them. The QB also isn’t shy about the use of his legs. Barry said it’s hard to simulate, difficult to plan for and “frustrating to watch, no doubt.” Barry also said having a tight end dominate the targets in a passing game is unique but that’s the case with Travis Kelce.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich’s focus is on the protection plan against Kansas City’s pressure defense. Zero blitzes, combination pressures off six and seven man fronts can be a nightmare for quarterback and line calls. Stenavich said Love and the linemen meet regularly every week to go over protections and they work on it a bunch. Still, the Chiefs will test them. He said there are ways to turn Kansas City’s aggression against them with well executed hot reads or draws. While the offensive production has increased over the last month, Stenavich knows there are more bumpy days ahead and they have to remain diligent on the practice field.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame along with Kay Jewelers will conduct a ceremony at halftime Sunday night to posthumously present the official Hall of Fame Rings of Excellence for Vince Lombardi, Henry Jordan and Bobby Dillon. Family members off all three will be on hand. John Lombardi, the grandson of the coach and son of Vince Lombardi Jr. will accept the ring of the legendary figure. Suzanne Jordan will represent her late father and Karen Gooch, the daughter of Dillon will receive the ring. A perfect ceremony during intermission of a game between the first two participants in the Super Bowl.
