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Can Packers make a splash in free agency? Aaron Jones?

By

Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers still have to cut more than $12.5 million just to get under the adjusted $180 million salary cap before the start of the new NFL year, they’ll need to go beyond that if they hope to make any moves in free agency, including bringing back any of their own, such as Aaron Jones and/or Corey Linsley to name two.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke with reporters via zoom on Tuesday.  Certainly a long term deal with Jones would be considerably better for the salary cap, but he didn’t rule out using a tag on Jones.

The last time the Packers used the franchise tag was in 2010, on nose tackle Ryan Pickett.  Losing Jones, without exploring every opportunity to keep him, would be a mistake.

Jones is tied for second in the league the last two years with 30 total touchdowns.  His 5.17 yards per carry career average [Read more…]

Packers Use Home Field To Crush Titans

By

#28 AJ Dillon

The Green Bay Packers showed the rest of the NFL what they could be in store for if the NFC playoffs come through Lambeau Field in their entirety.

A day that was filled with snow and cold, the Packers dominated the Tennessee Titans 40-14, improving to 12-3 on the season.  The Packers are one win away on Sunday afternoon in Chicago to clinch a first round bye and top billing in the NFC playoffs.

The Packers played their most complete game of the season, racking up 448 yards of offense and seeing their defense hold Titans running back Derek Henry under 100-yards (98 yards) with no touchdowns.  Henry entered the game with a league best 1,679 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was just 11 of 24 for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw a pair of interceptions.

Aaron Rodgers wasn’t bothered by the snow and cold at all.  In fact, he embraced it, on the way to a four touchdown day.  Rodgers completed 21 of 25 for 231 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.  Three of his four scoring strikes went to Davante Adams, who finished with 11 receptions for 142 yards. [Read more…]

Packers getting healthier coming out of bye week

By

Kamal Martin

While not totally healthy, the Green Bay Packers are getting closer as they come out of their early week five bye week.

With two spots open on the 53-man roster, the Packers welcomed back rookie inside linebacker Kamal Martin and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown to the practice field on Monday.  Both players can return to the 53-man roster at any time over the next three weeks.

Martin turned heads in training camp, even without the benefit of an on-field offseason program or preseason games.  He was in line to start next to veteran Christian Kirksey before injuring his left knee in practice in late August and having surgery the very next day.

There’s a chance Martin could be ready to go when the Packers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Tampa.

St. Brown also is returning from a knee injury that he suffered in training camp and would be a welcomed addition.  Even though Davante Adams is expected to return to the lineup this week after missing time with a hamstring injury, The Packers are still light at wide receiver after Allen Lazard was sidelined with a core muscle injury.

Packers LB Kirksey to miss some time

By

Christian Kirksey

The Green Bay Packers are expected to be without linebacker Christian Kirksey for at least one game and possibly more after injuring his shoulder in Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints.

ESPN first reported that the injury is not considered season ending and while Kirksey is awaiting a second opinion, surgery will likely be avoided.

Kirksey is expected to miss the Packers next game, Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons.  Following that game, the Packers have a Week 5 bye, which works in Kirksey’s favor.  They’ll return to action at Tampa Bay on Oct. 18th.

If the Packers decide to put Kirksey on injured reserve, he would have to miss three weeks.

Kirksey replaced Blake Martinez after signing a two-year deal worth $13 million back in March.  Martinez signed a free agent deal with the New York Giants.

Kirksey has had injury issues of late, missing all but the first two games of last season with a broken collarbone.  He played in just seven games in 2018 because of hamstring, ankle and shoulder injuries.

Second-year pro Ty Summers took over for Kirksey on Sunday and that is the most likely scenario moving forward until Kirksey returns.

 

Packers improve to 3-0 with 37-30 win over the Saints (AUDIO)

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WR Allen Lazard receives game ball following win over the Saints.

The Green Bay Packers continued putting up big numbers on offense, improving to 3-0 on the season with a 37-30 win over the New Orleans Saints (1-2) on Sunday night at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Aaron Rodgers passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns and the Packers scored 10 points in the final nine minutes to break a 27-27 tie and secured the victory.

Playing without their top receiver Davante Adams (hamstring), Rodgers turned to number two receiver Allen Lazard, who caught six passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara gained 197 yards from scrimmage, scoring a pair of touchdowns.  His 52-yard reception included four broken/missed tackles on the way to the end zone to tie the game at 27. [Read more…]

Packers display plenty of offense in season opening win (AUDIO)

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Packers beat Vikings in empty U.S. Bank Stadium

When the Green Bay Packers didn’t draft a wide receiver in the NFL Draft, many thought the Packers offense would be in trouble.  But a second year in Matt LaFleur’s system appears to be more important, at least after the first week of the new season.

Aaron Rodgers completed 32-of-44 for 364 yards and four touchdowns in the Packers 43-34 season opening win over the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.  Two of the four touchdown receptions were to the Packers number-one receiver, Davante Adams.  Adams was targeted 17 times and caught 14 passes, tying Don Hutson’s 1942 franchise record of 14 receptions in a single game.

Rodgers also tossed touchdown passes to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard, finishing with a quarterback rating of 127.5.  His four touchdown passes moved him past Eli Manning and into seventh place on the all-time list with 368.

It was a dominating offensive performance for the Packers, who racked up 522 total yards of offense in the win.  They [Read more…]

Packers rookie linebacker Kamal Martin out after knee surgery

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Kamal Martin works during training camp practice.

Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Kamal Martin, who was pushing for a starting job on the inside, had surgery for a torn meniscus on Tuesday and will miss at least six weeks.

The news was first reported by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.  The fifth-round pick from Minnesota, suffered the injury to his left knee during the team’s scrimmage at Lambeau Field on Sunday.  Martin didn’t play in his college team’s bowl game last year, opting instead for surgery on his right knee.

Martin was having perhaps the best training camp of all the rookies and was in line to either start or at least play a large role in the defense.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur refused to confirm the injury during his Wednesday zoom conference with reporters, saying only that the Packers would put out an injury report next Wednesday.

Martin had been competing with Oren Burks and Ty Summers for the starting job opposite newcomer Christian Kirksey.

Bulaga gets three-year deal with the Chargers

By

Bryan Bulaga

Bryan Bulaga had spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers, after being drafted in the first round back in 2010.  On Tuesday, Bulaga agreed to a three-year, $30-million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bulaga started 111 of his 115 games, having gone through a pair of ACL injuries in 2013 and 2017.

The Packers counted on Bulaga’s leadership during his time in Green Bay.  They’ll now look to veterans David Bakhtiari and Corey Linsley for some of that responsibility.

The Packers did sign tackle Rick Wagner, the former Badger from West Allis, to replace Bulaga.  Wagner has started 87 of his 102 games and was released by the Detroit Lions in a cost-cutting measure.

Packers linebackers headed to the Big Apple

The Packers signed free agent linebacker Christian Kirksey to and have now seen two of their own head to New York. [Read more…]

Packers secure deals with two free agents on Monday

By

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Bryan Bulaga’s long run with the Packers in Green Bay would appear to be over.

The Packers agreed to a two-year deal with former Badger tackle Ricky Wagner on Monday morning.  Wagner was a fifth round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and signed a five-year free agent deal with the Detroit Lions in 2017.  Detroit decided not to pay the $9 million due in 2020, releasing him March 13th in a cost cutting move.

The Packers were able to sign the West Allis, Wisconsin native right away because of his release in Detroit.  While with the Ravens and Lions, Wagner started 87 of 102 career games.

Bulaga started all 16 games for the Packers last season but is expected to get a considerable bump in pay elsewhere. [Read more…]