Exhibition games (or "meaningless games," in Aaron Rodgers’ words) can’t go much worse for the Green Bay Packers than their last one did. Jordy Nelson suffered a season-ending knee injury, and just about every phase of the game became sloppy after that.
With two down and two to go, here are five things to watch in the Packers' upcoming preseason game against the Eagles Saturday night at Lambeau Field.
1. QBs
Third preseason games are traditionally the ones when the starters play the most. However, Aaron Rodgers likely won’t play much, if at all. Add in Scott Tolzien going through the concussion protocol, and Packers fans are going to possibly see the entire game split between third- and fourth-string quarterbacks: Brett Hundley and Matt Blanchard.
It will be a terrific showcase opportunity for both Hundley and Blanchard, but their performances aren’t going to reveal anything noteworthy about the Packers upcoming season. Hundley is destined to make the 53-man active roster (after all, Green Bay traded up to get him in the fifth round, so he’s not getting released) while Blanchard finds himself as the odd man out.
In the event Rodgers plays a series or two, the big men upfront will have to make sure he’s protected well in the pocket.
2. Offensive line performance
David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang are all unlikely to play due to injuries. The Packers found out in Pittsburgh how dangerous it can be for their reigning MVP quarterback when just one of their starters is sidelined. Don Barclay was at left tackle and got Rodgers crushed in the end zone for a safety, resulting in Rodgers wrapping his right wrist in ice.
Many eyes will be on Barclay, who has yet to play well during his comeback from a torn ACL last year. Josh Walker has been quite impressive, and he could be inching his way towards a 53-man roster spot. Lane Taylor and Garth Gerhart have played well in preseason, but there’s likely only room for one of them.
Whichever players are lined up along the line, they have to do a much better job of protecting the quarterbacks than they did against the Steelers.
3. The competition for No. 3 wide receiver
Nelson’s injury sends Davante Adams into the demanding role as the second wide receiver. But the challenge will be even greater for Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis and Myles White. One of them will begin the regular season as Green Bay’s No. 3 wide receiver. Between the three of them, they’ve played 130 career regular-season snaps (White 115, Janis 15, Montgomery 0).
Montgomery, Janis and White each have their flaws, but having Rodgers at quarterback should mask some of those weaknesses. It’s currently Montgomery’s job to lose, but asking a rookie to begin the year as the third option is not an easy task. Remember that even last year, Adams didn’t take the No. 3 spot from Jarrett Boykin until Week 4.
4. The competition for No. 3 running back
If Rajion Neal was losing his hold on the third running back job, it became a bit more secure after Alonzo Harris dropped a key pass on a wide-open screen play in Pittsburgh. John Crockett is still in the mix, too.
This spot on the roster is still very much up for grabs, and it could be won if Neal, Harris or Crockett shine Saturday night. Head coach Mike McCarthy would like to see versatility from his No. 3 running back, and Neal provides some of that with his ability to return kickoffs.
5. Cornerback rotation
Position coach Joe Whitt likes to reward those who deserve it. By picking up three more pass breakups last weekend (including one from Ben Roethlisberger to Martavis Bryant), LaDarius Gunter has gone from "Will he make the roster?" to "Can he actually crack the rotation in nickel or dime packages?" That is a mightily impressive accomplishment for an undrafted rookie. So, will Whitt reward Gunter by playing him ahead of Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins against Philadelphia?
Barring injury, the Packers will open Week 1 in Chicago with Sam Shields and Casey Hayward on the outside at cornerback, and Micah Hyde would be in the nickel slot. But with as well as Gunter, Randall and Rollins have played at various stages of preseason, Whitt could soon consider whether one of them has earned a bigger role in the defense.
