Defense’s continued struggles raise questions over how much longer Packers can stay in playoff hunt
As they prepare for a pivotal Sunday night game at Minnesota (7-8), the Packers (7-8) still have a chance to make the playoffs, but it’s difficult to see them competing if their defense doesn’t quickly improve.
“This feels like a playoff club,” Jones remarked following the Packers’ Sunday 33-30 victory against Carolina. We have a strong team. As a team, we will never give up and will always stand by each other. We have a number of guys that are prepared to compete. We’ve shown that we can compete with anybody when we’re playing our best ball.
Following their teams’ victories over Green Bay, Baker Mayfield of Tampa Bay and Tommy DeVito of the New York Giants were questioned by Packers coach Matt LaFleur about Joe Barry’s job security.
On Sunday, that defense might have been even worse.
The Panthers overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit thanks to a career-high 312 yards passing from rookie quarterback Bryce Young of C
arolina. The Panthers exceeded 18 points for the first time since October 15, when they scored a season-high 30 points against the Panthers.
Young got the Panthers into position for a game-tying field goal before the clock ran out, even after Green Bay’s Anders Carlson gave the Packers the lead with a 32-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining.
In its last two games, the Green Bay defense, which had only given up more than 25 points once in its first 13
games, has given up at least 30 points. Over their last three games, the Packers have allowed an average of 29.3 points to be scored.
The defense will now face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night in a rematch after they defeated Green Bay 24-10 on October 29 but lost quarterback Kirk Cousins to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury that same day.
“Everything is on the line,” LaFleur declared. “We’re playing against a pretty excellent football club in a fantastic setting in Minnesota next week, and it should be a terrific challenge.” However, we work for this opportunity every day of the year, every week, so we’ll be thrilled about it.
What is effective?
The Packers scored more points than they had since winning 38-20 at Chicago to start the season. Despite injuries that prevented wide receivers Christian Watson and Jayden Reed from playing the full game and forced WR Dontayvion Wicks to be benched late in the contest, quarterback Jordan Love had an effective outing. A drive that Love spearheaded resulted in the game-winning field goal.
WHAT HAS TO BE DONE
Almost everything is related to defense. The Packers’ soft zone coverage against Tampa Bay drew criticism, but even when they played more man-to-man coverage on Sunday, they performed just as poorly. Rasul Douglas, a wide receiver who was traded to the Buffalo Bills when the Packers were 2-5 and didn’t appear to be in contention for the postseason, is missed by the secondary. The Packers went three and out twice in a row in the fourth quarter, which helped the Panthers rally, in addition to the offense that was active for a large portion of the contest.
AVAILABLE STOCK
Jones achieved season highs in both categories with 21 carries for 127 yards of total yardage. WR Romeo Doubs had four receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, after finishing with seven grabs for 62 yards and no touchdowns during Green Bay’s two-game losing streak. His 36-yard catch assisted in establishing the winning field goal. Over his last six games, Love has thrown 13 touchdown passes and only one interception. WR Bo Melton recorded four receptions for 44 yards after having only ever caught one before the game.
LOW STOCK
Both CBs Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, who were playing in their second game back off injured reserve due to hamstring issues, were ineffective on Sunday despite playing for the first time in six games due to shoulder issues. Despite not being selected as the game captain, Alexander nevertheless entered the field for the opening coin toss and almost cost his team the point when he claimed the Packers preferred to play defense first rather than deferring the option. When referee Alex Kemp asked him to elaborate, the Packers got a break.
PERSONAL HARM
With a chest injury, Wicks had to leave the game. S. Darnell Savage (shoulder) missed his second straight game, and Watson (hamstring) missed his third straight. Both LB De’Vondre Campbell (neck) and Reed (toe/chest) were sidelined.
ESSENTIAL NUMBER
100—Jones’ 127 yards of rushes and receptions was the first 100-yard performance by a Packer in a single game this season.
NEXT ACTIONS
The Packers host the Chicago Bears to wrap up the regular season before traveling to Minnesota for a game that will have a significant impact on the playoffs.
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Panthers: Three Packers Out, Three “Doubtful,” and Seven “Questionable”
Two players have been officially declared out of the Green Bay Packers’ game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. The remaining six players will be determined at game time.
This concludes the Packers’ weekly injury report.
OUT
LB Campbell, DeVondre (neck)
S. Darnell Savage, arthroscopy
Luke Musgrave, TE (nursing)
DUBIOUS
Luke Tenuta (ankle) on OT
Christian Watson, WR, hamstring injury
RB Wilson Emanuel (shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE
CB Alexander Jaire (shoulder)
Thumb RB AJ Dillon
Jayden Reed, WR (chest/toe)
Tadarrell Slaton, DT (foot/knee)
Dontayvion Wicks, WR, an ankle
S. Rudy Ford in back
Bob Rochell, CB (neck)
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Final Injury Report for Packers vs. Panthers: Aaron Jones, OK However, Issues at the Receiver
In Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, the Green Bay Packers may be without a wide receiver due to injuries to Christian Watson and Jayden Reed.
Green Bay, Wisconsin. Aaron Jones, the running back for the Green Bay Packers, is not listed as injured, but Christian Watson, another receiver, is questionable, and Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are both doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Although there is uncertainty at receiver—neither Watson nor Reed have practiced this week—the Packers’ backfield may be fully healthy. Jones worked out all week, hoping to improve on his 17 touches for 69 yards from a week ago, when he was on a rep count in the Buccaneers game.
He appeared good all week, in my opinion. Following practice on Friday, coach Matt LaFleur stated, “He had no issues.” “I hope he remains that way.”
AJ Dillon trained all week as well; he was out of last week’s game due to a broken thumb. Despite his dubious background, LaFleur declared, “I feel happy where AJ’s at.”
Ben Sirmans, a veteran running backs coach, could not recall a single one of his backs suffering a fractured thumb while playing.
“I believe that pain tolerance has a significant role,” he stated. “Obviously, having both hands is very significant at the running back position, so it really comes down to seeing how much stuff he can accomplish with the injury and if it will make him viable for Sunday.”
Due to an injured toe, Reed, who has played through a number of injuries throughout the second half of the season, missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Reed caught passes from a JUGS machine as his teammates warmed up for practice inside the Don Hutson Center.
Even though LaFleur claimed that Reed “was out there” for practice, he remained inside the Hutson Center and did not take part in the formal drills. It did not bode well for Sunday that he had not practiced all week.
With 54 receptions, 592 yards, and eight touchdowns overall, Reed leads the club in receiving.
“I’m just learning how to be a pro and take extra care of my body,” Reed stated. You will undoubtedly be much more sore now than you were at the start of the season. I’m merely attempting to strike a healthy balance between working out in the gym and receiving my mental health treatments when they tend to me.
Watson did not practice this week and missed the previous two games due to a hamstring issue.
“Experiencing it twice in a season is obviously quite high in terms of frustration,” Watson stated. “Having hamstring problems has made it difficult for me to miss even one game, let alone the several ones I’ve missed thus far. However, I can only control what I can now control because it’s out of my hands.
Reporters are limited to watching the players warm up inside the Hutson Center on Fridays. Both safety Darnell Savage and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (shoulder) stayed indoors and were not expected to play on Sunday. So does tight end Luke Musgrave, who did not practice this week despite being scheduled to return from injured reserve on Thursday due to a kidney issue sustained last month.
The seven players that are questionable are Reed, Dillon, defensive tackle TJ Slaton, receiver Dontayvion Wicks (playing despite an ankle injury), and cornerback Jaire Alexander (who missed the last six games due to a shoulder injury).
Will Alexander’s big week finally come this week?
“We have hope. That’s how I’ll leave it, LaFleur said.
Watson is questionable, as are offensive lineman Luke Tenuta and running back Emanuel Wilson, who were supposed to return from injured reserve.
The Panthers’ injury report features just three players, none of whom are important players, compared to the Packers’ thirteen.
Two players with questionable stats are safety Sam Franklin (four starts, a 99-yard pick-six) and tight end Ian Thomas (five starts, four receptions).
Despite missing practice at the beginning of the week due to sickness, outside linebacker Brian Burns—who has six sacks this week after seasons of 9.0, 9.0, and 12.5—is not listed as injured.
When Burns was the Pro Bowl coach a few years ago, LaFleur had the opportunity to watch him in action.
He’s a highly gifted man, LaFleur remarked. It’s evident that he is a bright man, yet I believe that his physical attributes, skill set, and intense dedication to the game enable him to perform very well.
The injury reports are as follows:
Packers’ Last Injury Report
De’Vondre Campbell (neck), S. Darnell Savage (shoulder), and TE Luke Musgrave (kidney) are out.
Uncertain: WR RB Emanuel Wilson (shoulder), OT Luke Tenuta (ankle), and hamstring specialist Christian Watson.
WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), WR Jayden Reed (toe), WR Rudy Ford (back), CB Robert Rochell (knee), CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder), RB AJ Dillon (thumb), and DT TJ Slaton (knee) are all questionable.
Final Injury Report for the Panthers
LB Claudin Cherelus (knee), S. Sam Franklin (quad), and TE Ian Thomas (ankle) are all questionable.
