It’s been an “Omigosh” week with the Omicron variant for the Green Bay Packers. The case numbers keep going up as their week 17 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings keeps drawing closer.
Five more positive tests were announced on Wednesday with the most significant being punter Corey Bojorquez. If veteran Mason Crosby gets in a few boots between now and Sunday, Green Bay will likely have their placekicker handling the punting chores as well. The others joining the growing Reserve/COVID-19 list include safety Henry Black, defensive tackle Kingsley Keke, tight end Tyler Davis and just signed practice squad cornerback Jayson Stanley. That makes a grand total of 17 on the list.
Under new rules adopted by the NFL Tuesday, some players might still be able to clear protocols in time for the game. The league has adopted Monday’s Centers for Disease Control guidelines allowing quarantine periods for positive cases who are either asymptomatic or experience lessening symptoms to be cut in half, from ten days to five.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling tested positive last week and would be eligible to return before the weekend. Saturday’s additions Kevin King and Shemar Jean-Charles could also return. Even the Monday and Tuesday positive tests, Amari Rodgers, Ben Braden, Tipa Galaei, Marcedes Lewis and Oren Burks might still have a chance to play if their COVID-19 symptoms have cleared or gone away.
Regardless, Head Coach Matt LaFleur and his assistants have been scrambling all week to put a game plan together for the players they hope will be in uniform Sunday night. The team was able to install the plan with position group meetings separated. Post practice meetings were conducted either socially distanced or virtually. Masks are on full time when players are at the stadium.
To keep the roster numbers up, General Manager Brian Gutekunst added four more players to the practice squad today. Aside from Stanley, Green Bay has signed tackle Adrian Ealy, linebacker Aaron Adeoye and running back Kerrith Whyte is making his second appearance on the squad.
The opening practice of the week lasted just over an hour on Clarke Hinkle Field under sunny skies but on a nippy, 23 degree day. By the way, Sunday night’s forecast is calling for single digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chills.
For the first time since the Pittsburgh Steeler game on October 3, All Pro defensive back Jaire Alexander practiced as a member of the 53 man roster. Today was the deadline to bring Alexander aboard or have him finish the season on injured reserve with a shoulder that was badly injured when he tackled the Steelers’ Najee Harris that afternoon. When I asked LaFleur how Alexander will be re-integrated back into the lineup, he said it would be “gradual”. They want to make sure they do everything they can to ensure Alexander will “be good for the long haul”, even though that haul has two regular season games and three, possibly four playoff games in the “haul” through the Super Bowl.
Among the players who did not participate at practice were David Bakhtiari and Billy Turner. The veteran book end tackles are both recovering from knee injuries. Bakhtiari’s return has been speculated upon for weeks since coming off the physically unable to perform list but the timetable is still in flux. Turner is still a ways off according to LaFleur who also didn’t rule out a return from injured reserve for starting center Josh Myers.
Aaron Rodgers also stayed inside to continue rest and treatment for his broken toe but the quarterback did meet with the media via zoom after practice.
The now, clear betting favorite for a second straight and 4th NFL MVP award talked of how special that would be this season considering the toe injury he’s been dealing with for five weeks (during which he’s played his best football) and sitting out a week after contracting COVID-19. Rodgers was also asked if he’s still enjoying living in the moment with this year’s team after repeatedly talking about playing with that peace of mind in 2020. He said nothing’s changed in that regard but when questioned if that indicates he’s definitely planning on a return to Green Bay in 2022, taking his talents elsewhere or even hanging up his cleats, he caught everyone’s attention saying retirement is also an option.
Rodgers also touched on the sad news revealed Tuesday when it was learned that legendary coach, broadcaster and video game namesake John Madden passed away unexpectedly at the age of 85. Madden was an icon in the NFL for over 50 years. First as the Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders where he spent 10 years on the sideline without ever having a losing season. He led the Raiders to the playoffs in 8 of those 10 seasons, reaching the AFC Championship Game 6 consecutive years, losing them all before finally breaking through in 1976 to lead Oakland to the Super Bowl XI title against the Minnesota Vikings. He then moved to the broadcast booth where his energetic, off-beat analysis made him the country’s number one analyst working alongside Pat Summerall for years on CBS, then Fox before hooking up with Al Michaels on ABC and ESPN. His popularity spawned commercial endorsements, most notably with Miller Lite beer and then came the X-Box Madden game, a staple for the new generation of pro football fans. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and even in retirement, was a sought after sage.
Madden had an undying love for Green Bay, Lambeau Field and of course Brett Favre, calling his Super Bowl XXXI victory for the Packers against New England. His final year in the broadcast booth was 2008, which happened to be the first year Rodgers became the Pack’s starting quarterback. Rodgers was asked about the first (and only) Saturday production meeting with the legendary coach and admitted he was nervous, with good reason.
Rest in peace Coach.
Notes from across the border.
The Vikings are at the point of no return in their push for the playoffs. At 7-8, another loss will likely keep them off the dance card for the third time in the last four years under Mike Zimmer. Minnesota got a boost when they activated running back Dalvin Cook off their Reserve/COVID-19 list. Cook missed last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams but he’s already climbed over 1000 yards rushing, averaging 97 yards a game for the high powered Viking offense. They’ll have a little bit less power downfield however as All Pro wide receiver Adam Thielen underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a damaged ankle and he was placed on season ending injured reserve. Thielen is second on the team in receptions and leads them with 10 touchdown catches. His absence will have the Packers deal with just one star receiver in Justin Jefferson who has 97 catches for over 1400 yards, breaking the NFL record last week for the most receiving yards in his first two seasons with now over 2800.
