Matthews will play the same way
GREEN BAY - After his third roughing-the-passer penalty in as many weeks, Green Bay Packers pass rusher Clay Matthews didn’t have to go far to find clarification from the NFL’s competition committee.
Matthews said he had a conversation this week with Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy, a member of the committee that approved putting an emphasis on roughing penalties, especially regarding defenders landing with all or most of their body weight on the quarterback. Matthews said Murphy’s message echoed his coaches’, that the veteran is “not to change a thing” with how he plays.
“I think it was moreso just continue to play in the way in which I have,” Matthews said.
That message seems contradictory to a statement the competition committee released Thursday.
After convening for a conference call, the committee doubled down on its desire to protect quarterbacks with a continued emphasis on roughing-the-passer penalties. As part of a 129-word statement, the committee confirmed it discussed enforcement of roughing-the-passer rules with a specific emphasis of body weight by a defender.
“In reiterating its position on quarterback protection,” the statement read, “the committee determined there would be no changes to the point of emphasis approved this spring or to the rule, of which the body weight provision has been in place since 1995.”
Green Bay has become the epicenter for controversy after Matthews was called for three roughing penalties in the first three weeks. The last two were highly questionable, including a hit on Minnesota Viking quarterback Kirk Cousins that erased a game-clinching interception.
The NFL released the teaching video it sent teams highlighting legal and illegal hits on the quarterback. One of the illegal hits included Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr’s collision with Aaron Rodgers last season, which broke the Packers quarterback’s collarbone. Among the legal plays were former Packers linebacker Ahmad Thomas’ hit on Oakland’s EJ Manuel during the preseason.
“Video feedback will continue to be provided throughout the season to coaches, players and officials illustrating clear examples of permissible and impermissible contact on the quarterback,” the statement said.
Matthews said Thursday he noticed his two hits were “conveniently left out of the teaching video” He also noticed the only legal hits shown were edge rushes. The video did not show a single, legal rush from the interior.
Both of Matthews’ hits were interior rushes.
“Maybe,” Matthews said, “they can make room and put one more guy on the competition committee. Me.”
Matthews, who said he was not fined for his hit on Washington quarterback Alex Smith, is still hoping the league changes how it calls roughing penalties. If not, Matthews said “the field is just going to be littered with flags trying to protect the quarterback, trying to protect business.”
“If they continue to call it like that,” Matthews said, “I think there’s going to be more penalties, players are obviously going to be upset, coaches are going to continue to not know how to coach it and fans will continue to be upset by the fact that the NFL can’t seem to get out of its own way.”
Rodgers returns
A day after Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers’ absence from practice has had an effect on the entire team, Rodgers participated in a weekday session for the first time since injuring his left knee against Chicago on Sept. 9.
“We all know, the guy, obviously, is an outstanding competitor, whether it’s a competitive period, per se, or just him being him,” Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said after practice Thursday. “With the command that he has of the offense and the detail that he puts into his preparation and the passing game with all the nuances that are involved, he’s very hands on. He’s a really good communicator with the offensive guys. He loves to compete against the defensive guys. You know, I think it just brings additional energy to the practice field. I think we all felt that today.”
Until Thursday, Rodgers had only practiced on Saturdays as he has maintained a rehabilitation program since the injury.
“That’s the trade-off – not being out there for practice but the trade-off is I can actually get out there and play on Sunday,” Rodgers said Wednesday.
Rodgers acknowledged that the missed practices has been difficult on him but he has not missed a snap since returning to action against the Bears at halftime of Week 1.
“Any time your quarterback (doesn’t practice) period — I don’t care what team you’re on or wherever I’ve been — when your quarterback doesn’t practice, it’s different,” McCarthy said Wednesday. “I mean, Aaron Rodgers brings a tremendous amount of — forget about the game plan or the scheme you’re running that week. The competitive nature.
“When you talk to defensive coaches, and I had one recently with one of the newer guys on our staff about other places and different (things). When you feel a quarterback on the field, that’s huge as far as his cadence, his presence, the competition. That’s such a big part. Those are things that don’t show up in a scouting report or that you can see on video.”
Returning to the practice field Thursday as well was tight end Jimmy Graham, who missed Wednesday’s session with what McCarthy deemed “maintenance” for a knee.
Along the offensive line, right tackle Bryan Bulaga practiced for the second straight day after leaving the Washington game early with a back injury. Right guard Justin McCray remained out with a left shoulder injury, however.
Jason Spriggs relieved Bulaga while Lucas Patrick and Byron Bell saw snaps at right guard.
Also practicing on a limited basis was cornerback Kevin King, who is returning from a groin injury. King, who exited the game against Minnesota early, was moving well in individual drills.
Wide receiver Randall Cobb was a new addition to the injury report as a limited participant due a hamstring injury.
Outside linebacker Nick Perry remains in the concussion protocol, but he did observe an early portion of practice on Thursday.
Searching for help
Defensive tackle Muhammed Wilkerson suffered a season-ending ankle injury Sunday in Washington, but the Packers have yet to make a roster move to replace him on the 53-man roster.
“It’s a big loss and you just don’t bump guys up and replace him,” Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said of Wilkerson. “But we have a plan. We feel good with where we are moving forward. We’ll see how it plays out. There’s some guys that have to step up.”
McCarthy has insisted all week that the team is content to go into Buffalo with Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Lowry and Adams as its only active defensive linemen, but the team did attempt to sign defensive tackle Brian Price away from the Cleveland practice squad Tuesday.
According to a league source, the Packers wanted to add Price to their 53man roster but he elected to stay in Cleveland. To keep him, the Browns agreed to pay Price the prorated league minimum while keeping him on the practice squad.
Price came into the NFL in 2016 when the Packers signed him as an undrafted free agent out of University of TexasSan Antonio.