PLAYER NOTES
–QB Aaron Rodgers, who has been dealing with a knee injury all season and injured his groin in the first half of last week’s loss at Chicago, is expected to be the starting quarterback against the Jets, even though Green Bay is eliminated from playoff consideration. Rodgers said, “I think it’s a lot about leadership. If I want to be listened to and followed and looked up to, how could I stand here and say that these games that don’t matter for playoffs, I’m going to cash it in? That’s just not the way I lead, and I’m super competitive, and I want to be out there with the guys, and I look forward to being out there.”
–WR Randall Cobb and T Jason Spriggs are in the concussion protocol following injuries sustained against Chicago. Spriggs has started at right tackle the past two weeks and played every snap against the Bears. The starting right tackle, Bryan Bulaga, returned to practice on Wednesday. He has been dealing with a knee injury. “I feel pretty good about it,” Bulaga said. “Still taking it day by day and kind of worked today and see how it feels tomorrow and work again tomorrow and see how it feels Friday and work again Saturday. So we’ll see. Day by day. It felt good today and wake up and check in with the guys tomorrow and see how it feels.”
–DT Kenny Clark missed the Chicago game with an elbow injury and disputed a report that he will be placed on injured reserve. He said, “If I’m available to play and Doc clears me, then I’m for sure 100 percent going to play. As long as Doc says I’m good and he’s confident in me going out there and playing with it, I’m playing.” The Packers’ other starting defensive linemen, Mike Daniels and Muhammad Wilkerson, already are on injured reserve.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Jamaal Williams. It’s Williams’ turn, again, in the backfield. Aaron Jones, who leads the team with 728 rushing yards and leads the NFL with 5.5 yards per carry, suffered a MCL sprain during the first quarter of Sunday’s loss at Chicago and was placed on injured reserve. It’s a big step back to Williams from a production standpoint, with Williams averaging only 3.7 yards per carry. He played well against the Bears, though, with 55 rushing yards (4.6 average) and a 10-yard touchdown and four receptions for 42 yards. Williams hadn’t had a gain of longer than 16 yards as a runner or receiver but had a 20-yard run and 21-yard reception.
GAME PLAN: Forget about balance. With Aaron Jones’ season-ending knee injury, the Packers backfield is down to Jamaal Williams and Kapri Bibbs, who was added to the roster on Monday. So, expect the Packers to come out throwing the ball so Williams doesn’t drop dead from exhaustion. But who will be throwing the football? Presumably, it will be Aaron Rodgers – that’s what interim head coach Joe Philbin said – but with nothing to play for other than draft positioning, DeShone Kizer could get a look. And whoever is playing quarterback, who will be catching the football? Star receiver Davante Adams has 100 receptions for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns, giving him a chance to break franchise records for receptions and yards. The Packers will want to get him the ball. Otherwise, it might mean more playing time for rookie receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown and some meaningful snaps for receivers J’Mon Moore and Jake Kumerow and tight end Robert Tonyan.
The Jets are in much the same boat as Green Bay from an offensive perspective. With their backfield hammered by injuries, expect rookie quarterback Sam Darnold to come out throwing against Green Bay’s secondary. The formula against any rookie quarterback is universal: try to confuse him and unleash the hounds on third down. Despite a huge injury report, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has done a good job keeping down the score. What the Packers have lacked all season are turnovers. The only takeaway in Sunday’s loss to Chicago was an unforced fumble. So, look for Pettine to come out in attack mode in hopes of getting a turnover or three to tip the game in Green Bay’s favor.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Packers WR Davante Adams vs. Jets CBs Trumaine Johnson and Morris Claiborne. Adams is having a marvelous season with 100 receptions for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s really been the only reliable playmaker for Green Bay all season. Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins had a huge game against the Jets, catching 10 passes on 11 targets for 170 yards. He had equal success against both of the Jets’ corners. With RB Aaron Jones going on injured reserve, Adams might be Plan A, B and C for a sputtering offense. He’ll need a big game for the Packers to have much success on offense.
–Packers S Josh Jones vs. Jets TE Christopher Herndon. Herndon, a fourth-round draft pick, has had a solid rookie year with 32 receptions for 412 yards and three touchdowns. The seventh of 15 tight ends selected, he is first in receptions, second in yards and third in touchdowns. The Packers have done good work against tight ends for most of the season, but Chicago’s Trey Burton caught four passes for 36 yards and one touchdown and Adam Shaheen snagged two catches for 39 yards. The Jets don’t have a lot of firepower at receiver, but Herndon has had a solid rookie season. He’ll match up frequently with Jones, Green Bay’s second-year safety. He is an aggressive player but has missed tackles and blown some coverages.
