Packers, Seahawks expect star QBs back
But Roethlisberger is out with virus
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, clearing the way for the reigning MVP to make his return Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 last week, preventing him from joining his teammates for a 13-7 loss at Kansas City that snapped the Packers’ seven-game winning streak.
The Packers activated Rodgers and cornerback Isaac Yiadom on Saturday. They also released linebacker La’Darius Hamilton.
Even though Rodgers didn’t practice all week, coach Matt LaFleur has said the 37-year-old quarterback would start if available to play. Rodgers participated virtually in team meetings this week while backup Jordan Love got the first-team reps in practice.
“He’s been in every meeting,” LaFleur said Wednesday. “He’s been engaged. So, it’s just he’s not with his guys out on the field. That’s the dynamic that you never know. But we’re fortunate to have a guy that has got a ton of reps under his belt, has played a ton of ball, so we’re pretty confident that provided he checks out well he can go out there and play at a high level.”
Love, a 2020 first-round pick from Utah State, made his first career start in place of Rodgers at Kansas City. He went 19 of 34 for 190 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Rodgers has completed 67.1% of his passes for 1,894 yards and 17 touchdowns with three interceptions this season. He threw for 17 touchdowns with one interception during the seven-game win streak.
The NFL fined Rodgers and Packers receiver Allen Lazard $14,650 this week for violating league and players’ union COVID-19 protocols. The Packers were fined $300,000 as a team.
Sunday’s game will feature two star quarterbacks returning to action. Seattle’s Russell Wilson also expects to start Sunday after missing three games with an injury to his right middle finger that required surgery.
The action began Thursday with host Miami stunning Baltimore Ravens 22-10. Xavien Howard forced a fumble and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown, and Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench and capped his night with a 1-yard sneak for a score with 2:19 left for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins (3-7) got three field goals from former New Mexico Lobo Jason Sanders and got their second win in five days.
Tagovailoa — who couldn’t start because of a fractured finger on his left, or throwing, hand — threw for 158 yards in relief of Jacoby Brissett, who passed for 156 yards before needing to depart in the third quarter with an injured right knee.
Off this week are Chicago (3-6), Houston (1-8), Cincinnati (5-4) and the New York Giants (3-6).
NEW ORLEANS (5-3) at TENNESSEE (7-2): Your best player gets sidelined for a lengthy period, perhaps the rest of the season, and yet you prosper.
That’s been the strange scenario recently in Music City, where the Tennessee Titans still have their groove despite losing running back Derrick Henry — also the top player in the AFC South — to a broken foot.
Tennessee, with a 3½-game lead in the division and standing atop the entire conference, is 6-0 against 2020 playoff teams, including wins in four straight games. Tennessee has won five straight overall, the longest active streak in the NFL.
The Saints, 4-1 in games played outside New Orleans, are without their starting quarterback, Jameis Winston, also a huge loss, and running back Alvin Kamara. The Titans on Saturday said receiver Julio Jones is going on injured reserve with a bad hamstring.
CAROLINA (4-5) at ARIZONA (8-1): Superman is back in Charlotte, but it’s unlikely Cam Newton will have any effect on this game. He joined the Panthers, where he won the 2015 MVP award, on Thursday after starting quarterback Sam Darnold went on injured reserve, but P.J. Walker will start.
Carolina has a five-game winning streak against the Cardinals, but Arizona has the league’s best record and is trying to tie a franchise best of 9-1 set in 1948 and 2014. The Cardinals won without quarterback Kyler Murray and star receiver DeAndre Hopkins last week.
KANSAS CITY (5-4) at LAS VEGAS (5-3): The Chiefs have looked nothing like the offensive juggernaut that went to the past two Super Bowls, winning one. They tend to come alive in November, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes is 10-1, and tight end Travis Kelce often dominates the Raiders.
Las Vegas, dealing with disturbing off-field circumstances, could be distracted.
MINNESOTA (3-5) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-3): Los Angeles has the worst run defense in football, which could play into the hands of Vikings RB Dalvin Cook. But the Vikes, who have mastered losing close games, are more of a passing team. Kirk Cousins has been sacked a league-low 10 times this season. One thing the AFC West leaders do well is lead the NFL in fourth-down conversions (11) and attempts (17). They were 2 for 4 in a win at Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA (3-6) at DENVER (5-4): Is any team more streaky than the Broncos? They won their first three games (against weak competition), then lost four in a row when the opponents became more formidable. Now they have won two straight, including thrashing the NFC East-leading Cowboys on the road.
Eagles running backs Jordan Howard, Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell have combined for six rushing TDs in the past two games with starter Miles Sanders sidelined. Philly’s Jason Kelce will make his 115th consecutive regular-season start, which is the longest active streak among NFL centers.
TAMPA BAY (6-2) at WASHINGTON (2-6): Tom Brady is 5-1 against Washington, counting a playoff win in January on the way to his seventh Super Bowl title. He has thrown for 15 TDs in those six starts. He might need to be at his best, because the Bucs have several key defensive injuries.
Washington, which has lost three straight coming off a bye, ranks last in pass defense.
DETROIT (0-8) at PITTSBURGH (5-3): ESPN reported Saturday evening that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is being placed on the league’s reserve/ COVID-19 list and will miss the game. Mason Rudolph will start for the 5-3 Steelers, who host the winless Lions.
Amazing stat: The previous time the Lions won in Pittsburgh was 1955. That 31-28 win came at Forbes Field, two stadiums ago for the Steelers. Pittsburgh is 12-3-1 against Detroit at home and 9-0-1 in the past 10 visits by the Lions.
Steelers LB T.J. Watt had three sacks last week and has 11½ this season. Detroit has allowed 22 sacks.
CLEVELAND (5-4) at NEW ENGLAND (5-4): It seems releasing Odell Beckham Jr. was addition by subtraction for Cleveland. While the receiver was on his way out, the Browns played their best game in defeating Cincinnati. They could be plagued in the running game, their strength on offense, with primary running back Nick Chubb on the reserve/ COVID-19 list and Kareem Hunt missing his fourth consecutive game.
Patriots rookie QB Mac Jones must keep track of Browns DE Myles Garrett, who leads the league with 12 sacks.
BUFFALO (5-3) at NEW YORK JETS (2-6): Coming off an embarrassing loss at Jacksonville, the Bills should be geared for a memory-erasing performance. New York is ranked last in overall defense,.
The Jets will start backup QB Mike White for a third straight week. The Bills are plus-11 in turnover margin and the Jets are minus-12.
JACKSONVILLE (2-6) at INDIANAPOLIS (4-5): Indianapolis has won 15 of its 20 home games against Jacksonville, which has dropped 11 successive road matches. Jacksonville has lost eight straight division games.
Carson Wentz has thrown at least two TD passes in six consecutive games and is coming off a career-best single-game rating of 134.3 against the Jets. RB Jonathan Taylor has a touchdown in six straight games and has 100 yards from scrimmage in each of those outings.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (7-2) at SAN FRANCISCO (3-5), Monday night: One of the league’s best long-standing rivalries, which the Niners have dominated with four straight victories. But the 49ers have lost their first four home games for the first time since 1982 and third time ever.
With recently acquired linebacker Von Miller expected to suit up for LA, watch out for the pass rush. Aaron Donald’s 12½ sacks are tied with Kevin Greene for the most ever against the 49ers, and the Rams lead the NFL with 28 sacks.
But Los Angeles receiver Robert Woods suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will be out for the rest of the season, coach Sean McVay said Saturday.
Woods injured his knee during practice on Friday, the same day that new star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. arrived at the Rams’ facility. Beckham was expected to practice with the Rams for the first time Saturday. His status for Monday night’s game against San Francisco at Levi’s Stadium is still to be determined, according to McVay.