PLAYER NOTES
–QB Aaron Rodgers was held out of Wednesday’s practice. Since suffering an injured left knee against Chicago in Week 1, he has not participated in any Wednesday practices. He practiced last Thursday and that’s the plan for this week, as well.
–CBs Jaire Alexander and Kevin King, who are nursing groin injuries, practiced on Wednesday. King has missed the last two-and-a-half games while Alexander dropped out of the Buffalo game.
–RG Justin McCray, who missed the Buffalo game with a shoulder injury, was back at practice on Wednesday but Byron Bell, who started vs. Buffalo, was the one working alongside RT Bryan Bulaga.
–WR Geronimo Allison, who leads the team in receiving yards, remains in the concussion protocol. Fellow WR Randall Cobb, who missed the Buffalo game with a hamstring injury, did not practice on Wednesday.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WRs Marquez Valdes-Scantling, J’Mon Moore and Equanimeous St. Brown. After releasing veteran receiver Jordy Nelson, the Packers drafted Moore in the fourth round, Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round and St. Brown in the sixth round. Combined, they have two catches – both by Valdes-Scantling. Moore hadn’t played on offense until last week and St. Brown hasn’t played on offense at all. However, with veterans Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison battling injuries, the Packers might have to lean on their rookie receivers to take some of the pressure off the last veteran standing, Davante Adams.
GAME PLAN: If starting receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are either limited or out altogether, it will be up to the Packers to somehow get Davante Adams open against a defense that will have its full attention directed at No. 17. Adams, with 28 catches for 285 yards and three touchdowns, is Green Bay’s leading receiver. If Cobb and Allison are sidelined, the rest of the receiver corps combined has two catches for 41 yards. Heightening that challenge will be the presence of Detroit’s Darius Slay, who is one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. Slay tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (eight) and had four more passes defensed (26) than anyone else in the league last season.
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford dominated the Packers last season, with 361 passing yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 132.4 passer rating at Lambeau Field and 323 passing yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 140.4 passer rating at Ford Field. With that, it’s no wonder how the Lions swept the season series for the first time in a quarter century. In his last seven meetings against Green Bay, he’s thrown 17 touchdown passes against three interceptions. The Packers’ pass defense, however, might be rounding into form after getting demolished in the second half by Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins and the first half against Washington’s Alex Smith. With eight touchdowns and five interceptions this season, Stafford has been a big play waiting to happen for the Lions and their opponent. The Packers have to take advantage of any opportunities offered by Stafford.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Packers WR Davante Adams vs. Lions CB Darius Slay. Adams is by far the Packers’ top receiver. Slay is by far the Lions’ top cornerback. Slay will shadow Adams wherever he goes. If Green Bay is without its next-best receivers, Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison, then the Packers’ hopes on Sunday might hinge on Adams’ ability to beat Slay, who led the NFL with eight interceptions and 26 passes defensed last season.
–Lions QB Matthews Stafford vs. Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Pettine, Green Bay’s first-year defensive coordinator, dominated his matchup against Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen last week. Allen, the Bills’ first-round draft pick, was in way over his head against the veteran coordinator. As a result, Green Bay won 22-0 – its first shutout since 2010. Stafford, of course, is not Allen. Stafford, who will be making his 130th regular-season start and has posted seven consecutive 4,000-yard seasons, has seen every blitz countless times in his career. He’s torched the Packers for 320-plus passing yards in each of his last four meetings.
