PLAYER NOTES
–RB Aaron Jones, who sat out the first two games with a league suspension, is back on the roster. As a rookie, Jones finished second in the NFL in yards per carry (5.5) last season, but he’ll begin behind Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery on the depth chart. “I understand what Aaron gives us. But his role will be secondary,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “Jamaal and Ty will be in the first slot. And how we use them, that’s why we play the game. Schematically, reps, play time and all that, that’s for Sunday. But, yeah, I’m excited to have Aaron back. I think our backfield, if you look at the age of these guys, I think we’re going to have a dynamic group for a number of years.”
–QB Aaron Rodgers played through a knee injury against Minnesota and is expected to start at Washington. Last week, he practiced on the Saturday before the game. He hopes to practice at least once this week, too. “The heat and the adrenaline definitely helped, but it’s just going to be something you’ve got to deal with for a while,” he said. “Take it week by week. It doesn’t seem like there’s a major setback at this point, so just being smart about it and trying to get ready to play Sunday.”
–CB Kevin King, who dropped out of last week’s game against Minnesota with a groin injury, probably will not play at Washington, though coach Mike McCarthy didn’t expect it to be a long-term issue.
–Rookie Oren Burks, who won the job at inside linebacker alongside Blake Martinez, missed the first two games of the season with a dislocated shoulder but would have been full participation at Wednesday’s practice if a regular practice had been held.
–OLB Clay Matthews was penalized for roughing the passer late in Sunday’s tie against Minnesota, a penalty that wiped away an interception and might have cost the team the game. On Monday, the NFL said it was going to use Matthews’ hit on Kirk Cousins as part of its officiating tape that is sent to all 32 teams. “The technique of grabbing the passer from behind the leg or legs, scooping and pulling in an upward motion, is a foul,” according to a league spokesman. Said Matthews, “You can’t just throw in new tactics and new rules as we’re going along. Like I said, everything that’s within that textbook of what to do as far as hitting the quarterback was checked off. Head across, within the strike zone, not putting body weight on them, rolling off was checked off the list. That makes it frustrating.”
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RT Bryan Bulaga. After Bulaga gave up a sack to Chicago’s Khalil Mack in Week 1 and to Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter in Week 2, it doesn’t get any easier for Bulaga as he’ll lock horns with Washington OLB Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan doesn’t have a sack this season but had 71.5 over the previous seven, including 13 last year.
GAME PLAN: With quarterback QB Aaron Rodgers hobbled by an injured left knee, it again will be up to the offensive line to keep him out of harm’s way. It won’t be easy. Washington features one of the best edge-rusher duos in the league with Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. They combined for 21 sacks last season, with 13 for Kerrigan and eight for Smith. Kerrigan will battle right tackle Bryan Bulaga while Smith will have to beat two-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari.
After giving up 425 passing yards to Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins last week, the Packers will have to contend with Alex Smith this week. Smith has completed 71.1 percent of his passes in two games. The Redskins don’t have a receiving duo in the same class as the Vikings’ Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, but cornerback Kevin King’s latest injury (groin) and Smith’s efficiency won’t make this an easy matchup.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “They’ve got a good defense. They’ve played two good games on defense, forced some turnovers and getting after the quarterback. They’ve got a really nice group of players, some big names and some up-and-comers as well who are making plays for them. Good pass rush, good scheme, very good linebackers and really good on the back end with obviously Josh (Norman) has been around a long time; he’s a fantastic player. (Quinton) Dunbar has improved every single year and you’ve got two solid safeties – a younger guy and then D.J. (Swearinger), who’s had a great start to the season.” — QB Aaron Rodgers, on facing a Washington defense that ranks No. 1 in yards allowed and No. 2 in points allowed.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Packers RT Bryan Bulaga vs. Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan is one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. He had 13 sacks last season, 11 sacks in 2016 and a total of 47 sacks over the past four seasons. Including the 2015 playoffs, he’s got three sacks in three career matchups against the Packers. Bulaga, who is bouncing back from last year’s torn ACL, has allowed a sack each of the past two weeks against Chicago’s Khalil Mack and Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter. If the Redskins are going to spring an upset, Kerrigan is the defensive player most capable of delivering a critical big play.
–Redskins RB Chris Thompson vs. Packers CB Josh Jackson. In the Week 1 game against Chicago, the Packers put the rookie Jackson on the field every time the Bears brought in RB Tarik Cohen. Thompson is a real matchup problem. He caught 13 passes in last week’s loss to Indianapolis, led the NFL in yards after the catch last season and averages 5.3 yards per carry for his career.
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