Janis still waiting for a single return
GREEN BAY - There are only two NFL teams that have yet to return a kickoff this season, and the Green Bay Packers are one of them.
They have allowed seven touchdowns and six field goals, plus received the ball three times to begin a half, but the end result is zero runbacks for return man Jeff Janis.
The only other team without a kickoff return attempt is the Baltimore Ravens.
“I feel like I’m getting used to it now,” Janis said. “It sucks but I think once the weather starts getting colder and things like that, that usually kind of helps us out in the return game. So I’ve just got to be patient and wait for it to happen.”
Janis has served as one of the primary returners for each of the last two seasons, beginning with his breakout performance (two returns for 83 yards) against the Minnesota Vikings in 2015. Since then, Janis has returned 20 kicks for an average of 26.2 yards. His longest runback is 70 yards; he has three returns of 40 yards or more.
Most of Janis’ success came in 2015, when he took over the job in late November. Janis returned 14 kicks an average of 29 yards that season, whereas in 2016 his average dipped to 19.8 yards.
So whether teams are kicking away from him out of fear or simply to boot the ball through the end zone, Janis continues waiting.
“Anytime you’re in this stadium you got a chance of getting a return because of the winds and so forth,” special-teams coordinator Ron Zook said of Lambeau Field. “Hopefully, we’ll get a return or we’ll get an opportunity to get one (against the Chicago Bears on Thursday).”
While Janis admitted he has been tempted to return kicks from deep in the end zone — he wants the chance to make a play for his team — abiding by Zook’s rules is an important part of his job. And keeping the ball in the end zone guarantees the Packers will start each drive at the 25-yard line.
“That’s something we talk about as a kickoff return unit with Coach Zook,” Janis said. “If it’s in the end zone we’re probably going to keep it in the end zone, things like that. Unless, I mean, if it’s just one of them games where we need to make something happen. It’s always possible.”
Could’ve been worse: On the first play against the Atlanta Falcons earlier this month, Packers safety Kentrell Brice said he felt tightness in his groin when he tried to run full speed.
Brice was standing 15 yards off the line of scrimmage as the deep safety. When Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan handed off to running back Devonta Freeman, Brice sprinted into the box. His groin only felt tight at the time.
He said it became painful as he played more snaps.
“I just kept trying to play through it,” Brice said. “It got to the point where I couldn’t really move the way I needed to move, and I felt like I was hindering the team. So trainers pulled me, and I understood. I was mad about it, because of the competitive spirit in me, but I knew at the end of the day I wasn’t benefiting the team by being out there and being hurt at the same time.”
Brice, who played 21 snaps in Atlanta, said it became clear he could no longer play effectively late in the second quarter.
He was covering Falcons receiver Julio Jones in the middle of the field on a deep crossing route. When Jones approached running from the defense’s right side of the field to the left, Brice’s groin was too painful for him to flip his hips.
Brice almost fell down as he backpedaled, and Jones caught a pass for 24 yards.
“It was extremely tight,” Brice said, “and as the game went on the tightness went to pain. Just kind of kept trying to play, but I think the pass when Julio came underneath me, I couldn’t really turn like I wanted to. I think they saw that, so they were able to pull me out. I’m thankful for them doing that, because I could’ve injured it worse than it was.’’
Brice was listed as a full participant on Tuesday’s injury report. He missed Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals but figures to be available against Bears if there are no setbacks.
On the injury report, Brice was joined as full practice participants by receiver Randall Cobb (chest), defensive lineman Quinton Dial (chest), running back Ty Montgomery (wrist), inside linebacker Jake Ryan (hamstring/concussion) and outside linebacker Nick Perry (hand).
Perry practiced with a black club over his right hand after having surgery last week. He played with a club over his left hand late last season.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari (hamstring), right tackle Bryan Bulaga (ankle) and defensive tackle Mike Daniels (hip) were listed as limited, giving them a chance to play against the Bears. Coach Mike McCarthy indicated that only players who were able to participate in Tuesday’s practice would have a chance to be available Thursday night.
Drawing that line would mean cornerback Davon House, dealing with a quad injury, will be inactive after not practicing Tuesday.
Goodbye for now: The Packers reached an injury settlement with long snapper Brett Goode, one day after he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring problem.
By settling with Goode, the Packers have the option of bringing him back later in the season without using one of their two IR-designated to return tags, which are typically reserved for players at more important positions. League rules state that the team agreeing to a settlement cannot re-sign the same player until at least three weeks have passed beyond the length of the settlement. In other words, if the Packers reached a three-week settlement with Goode — the exact length is unknown, this is merely an example — they would need to wait a total of six weeks before bringing him back.
The Packers signed long snapper Taybor Pepper on Monday to replace Goode.
Tiebreaker: The Packers and Bears enter Thursday’s game with their overall series deadlocked. Since 1923 the two teams have played 194 times, and the record stands at 94-94-6.
With a win, the Packers would take the series lead for the first time since 1932.
“Coach McCarthy, since he’s been here will always show a tape in regards to the tradition,” offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett said. “Bear Week. Packers and Bears. The Rivalry, dating all the way back. That’s part of the education standpoint as far as what this rivalry truly means and I think our players understand that — the history of what it means, moving forward, our role in it.
“It’s always a special week. Anytime you talk about the Packers and the Bears, it’s a special week. This happens to be on “Thursday Night Football,” so everyone is watching and it gives us another opportunity to go out and earn an additional win and show what we’re all about.”