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Packers remain winless against winning teams (AUDIO)

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Marquez Valdes-Scantling

For only the second time this season, the Green Bay Packers faced a team with a winning record and lost.  After scoring 28-points in the first half and leading 28-14 at halftime, the Packers (7-3) went on to lose to the Indianapolis Colts (7-3) 34-31 in overtime on Sunday.

The loss dropped the Packers out of the top position in the NFC playoff picture, still with six games left.

The Packers played arguably their best half of football this season in the first half, then played one of their worst in the second half.

Aaron Rodgers completed 27 of 38 for 311 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.  His favorite target, Davante Adams, caught seven passes for 106 yards and a score.  But the Packers ground attack managed just 66 yards on 18 carries with Aaron Jones finishing with 41 yards on 10 carries. [Read more…]

Adams held out of practice for second straight day

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Davante Adams

After suffering an ankle injury in last Sunday’s win over Jacksonville, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams didn’t practice for a second straight day with the team on Thursday.

As a veteran player, the Packers will likely give Adams right up until game time on Sunday before deciding whether or not he’ll play against the Indianapolis Colts.  Adams did participate on a limited basis on Wednesday and told reporters he was trending toward playing against the Colts.

Meanwhile, starting corners Jaire Alexander (concussion) and Kevin King (quad) both practiced on Thursday and could be on track to start against the Colts.  They haven’t played together since Oct. 5.

 

Packers lock up Bakhtiari for four years with record deal (AUDIO)

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#69 David Bakhtiari blocking during Sunday’s win over Jacksonville

It was a goal for David Bakhtiari to be the highest paid left tackle in the National Football League.  When the ink dried on the contract extension that he signed late Saturday night, the Green Bay Packers offensive lineman had just become the highest paid offensive lineman in league history.

Bakhtiari’s new deal, as reported by ESPN, is for four years and worth up to $105.5 million.  It includes $2 million in incentives and a $30 million signing bonus, all payable by the end of the current 2020 season.  The deal averages $23 million over the four years, surpassing the deal Laremy Tunsil signed with the Houston Texans in May ($22 million per year).  ProFootballTalk.com first reported the news of Bakhtiari’s extension during Sunday’s 24-20 win over Jacksonville.

“That was something that I’ve been chasing for a while,” said Bakhtiari after the game.  “In having the talks with my family, to have that monetary validation for all the hard work that I’ve put in really meant a lot and that was something that I can hold on to and have that title for the rest of my life.  That is something special that I’ve been chasing really ever since I got in the league.  I have goals, very lofty ones, and I always wanted to say that I was the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL [Read more…]

Packers sleepwalk their way to 4-point win over Jacksonville (AUDIO)

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Matt LaFleur

The Green Bay Packers went to bed Sunday night with a 7-2 record through the first nine games of the NFL season, but easily could have gone the other way.  After losing to the 1-win Vikings at home two weeks ago, the Packers were facing a 1-win Jacksonville Jaguar team that had the Packers on the ropes until the very end.  The defense got a late stop and the Packers prevailed 24-20.

The Jaguars had the ball at the Packers’ 36 yard line with 1:37 to play with a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown.  This time, the Packers suspect defense clamped down and came up with a huge stop to preserve the victory.  Rashon Gary and Preston Smith came up with key sacks on that final drive to end Jacksonville’s comeback efforts, sending the Jaguars (1-8) home with their eighth straight loss.

Aaron Rodgers passed for 325 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score, but the Packers quarterback also threw [Read more…]

Packers’ Lovett out for the season

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John Lovett: Photo courtesy of Mike Clemens

Green Bay Packers FB/TE John Lovett suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in practice on Thursday and will miss the rest of the season.

“What an unfortunate circumstance and just something you don’t really see very often, obviously in practice,” said head coach Matt LaFleur on Friday.  “It’s like the stars were aligned, man, in order for that to happen and it’s really unfortunate because you talk about a guy that will do anything for the football team.  The intensity that he brings, the effort, the energy, he is all about the team.  I feel just sick about it.”

Lovett started the season on the practice squad but played in all eight games this season.  He’ll be especially missed on special teams where he’s spent time on every unit and developed into a very reliable player.

Lovett played only 45 snaps on offense and had three carries for 6 yards.

AUDIO: Matt LaFleur on the loss of John Lovett for the season :14

Hall of Famer Paul Hornung passes away

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Photo Courtesy of Packers.com

Former Green Bay Packers great and Pro Football Hall of Fame tailback Paul Hornung passed away on Friday in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, after a battle with dementia.  Hornung was 84.

“The Green Bay Packers Family today is mourning the loss of Paul Hornung,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy.  “Paul was one of our special alumni whose mere presence in Lambeau Field electrified the crowd during  his returns.  His performances in big games were unparalleled and over time were appreciated by generations of Packers fans.  He played a key role in four of Vince Lombardi’s championship teams of the 1960’s.

“With Paul’s passing, we are deeply saddened that we continue to lose our greats from the Lombardi era, a run of unprecedented success in the National Football League. [Read more…]

Rodgers, Adams lead Packers rout (COVID Update)

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Davante Adams

After falling twice to San Francisco last season, the Green Bay Packers rolled to a convincing 34-17 win over the shorthanded 49ers on Thursday night.

Aaron Rodgers completed 25 of 31 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns, his fourth four-touchdown passing game this season.

Davante Adams had 10 catches for 173 yards and his league-leading eighth touchdown catch of the season and became the first player in NFL history with three games of 10 receptions for at least 150 yards in his team’s first eight games.  Adams missed two of those eight games because of injury.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped his fifth pass of the season, but rebounded with a pair of touchdown receptions, including a 52-yarder.

Running back Aaron Jones returned to the lineup and started for the Packers.  Jones didn’t score, but he did rush for 58 yards on 15 carries and was a key part of the offensive game plan on the team’s opening drive.

That opening drive ended with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams, giving the Packers [Read more…]

Packers matchup with 49ers could face COVID obstacle

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The Green Bay Packers are getting ready to leave for California in a few hours, but whether or not that game against the 49ers on Thursday night gets played is up in the air..

The Packers lost rookie AJ Dillon to a positive COVID-19 test on Monday and running back Jamaal Williams and rookie linebacker Kamal Martin were added to the reserve/COVID-19 list after contact tracing determined they were both high risk.

The game remained a go because the Packers haven’t had any additional positive tests this week.

Now, the 49ers have closed their facilities on Wednesday as a precaution after wide receiver Kendrick Bourne tested positive for COVID on Wednesday.  Contact tracing is underway to see if the virus’s spread is contained to Bourne, or if it reaches additional players.

That may not be known until Thursday, at which time the Packers will have already arrived in California.

Packers Williams and Martin ruled out for Thursday

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Jamaal Williams

Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin were both designated by the NFL as high-risk close contacts to AJ Dillon, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.  Both players have been ruled out for Thursday night’s game at San Francisco against the 49ers.

NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero first reported the news.  Anyone with “high-risk” close contact exposure must isolate for five days.  That means Williams and Martin, provided they don’t test positive for COVID, can rejoin the Packers on Saturday at the earliest.

As of now, the Packers and 49ers game remains a “go” for Thursday night in Santa Clara.

The Packers are hoping Aaron Jones can return to the lineup for the game.  He has missed the last two games because of a calf strain.  If Jones can’t return, they’re down to a pair of running backs, Tyler Ervin and practice squad player Dexter Williams.

Packers still on for Thursday against 49ers

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Matt LaFleur

As of late Monday, the Green Bay Packers game on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers is still on, despite Packers rookie running back AJ Dillon being ruled out of the game after a positive COVID-19 test on Monday.

Dillon is the Packers second-round draft pick.  He played 10 snaps on offense and seven more on special teams in Sunday’s 28-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

At his Zoom meeting with reporters on Monday, coach Matt LaFleur said he is operating under the assumption that Thursday’s game at San Francisco will be played.

“All indications point toward us playing on Thursday night,” LaFleur said.  “I think the league has confidence that we’ve [Read more…]