Packer QBs star vs. Texans
DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle state their case well in first exhibition game.
GREEN BAY – At the start of training camp, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the four preseason games would be the ultimate proving ground for backup quarterbacks DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle, more than shared reps on the practice field.
With Aaron Rodgers in a T-shirt watching along with all but two listed starters on the Packers’ first depth chart, Kizer and Boyle put together perhaps their best efforts of training camp in leading the Packers to a 2826 victory over the Houston Texans on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
The pair started off unevenly in their opening series but eventually settled into the flow of the offense by working off play-action calls that helped hold the Texans defense for a beat and open up throwing lanes.
Kizer, who called this one of the most important preseasons of his young career, overcame a shaky start to finish the first half with a 75-yard touchdown drive and give the Packers a 14-10 halftime lead.
Kizer has had an uneven training camp to date, alternately flashing the arm talent that made him a second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and the frustrating decisions and turnovers that have led to a career touchdown-to-interception ratio of 11 to 26.
With right guard Lane Taylor and wide receiver Marquez ValdesScantling the only starters joining
him to open the game, Kizer struggled to get the Packers from deep in their own territory on his first series. Holding penalties on left tackle Alex Light and right tackle Gerhard de Beer stunted the drive and led to a punt after 21 yards of offense.
The second series began at the Packers’ 8-yard line and after three Dexter Williams runs earned a first down, Kizer hit Jake Kumerow with a 13-yard pass for a first down. A Houston offside advanced the ball another five yards — and though the Packers still had to punt from their own 40, the field was flipped. It was then that Texans punt returner Keke Coutee misjudged JK Scott’s kick and the ball bounced off him, allowing Packers receiver Equanimeous St. Brown to recover it in the end zone for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Following a three-and-out — a possession that could have been extended had Kizer hit an open Danny Vitale on a swing pass out of the backfield — Kizer directed a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that gave the Packers a 14-7 lead with just under three minutes to go in the half.
He began by hitting tight end Robert Tonyan up the seam for a 23-yard completion on third-and-7, then dropped a screen to Dexter Williams for an 18-yard gain.
Perhaps showing how important the game was to him, Kizer took Texans defensive back Johnson Bademosi headon for a 2-yard scramble on a thirdand-1 play to earn a first down. Three plays later, Kizer began to scramble but instead reset and hit Darrius Shepherd in the end zone.
Shepherd, a 5-foot, 11-inch rookie receiver out of North Dakota State, made a leaping, twisting grab and absorbed a big hit for the score.
Kizer finished the night 8-for-13 for 102 yards and a 111.7 rating, spreading the ball to seven different receivers.
Boyle got the second half for the Packers and was handed the ball at the Houston 3-yard line thanks to a Chandon Sullivan interception of Texans quarterback Joe Webb. It took the Packers seven plays and a Houston illegal contact penalty on fourth-and-goal to score.
LaFleur challenged for a defensive pass interference call on a third-down incompletion in the end zone, but the non-call was upheld. J’Mon Moore than dropped a would-be touchdown on fourth down — but was absolved thanks to a Texans illegal contact penalty.
After two Tra Carson runs were stuffed, Boyle went back to Moore, and the second-year wideout held on for a touchdown and a 21-10 Packers lead. On his next series, Boyle connected with Allen Lazard for a leaping 27-yard touchdown, capping a 77-yard scoring drive that was aided by 45 yards of Texans penalties to put the Packers up 2810.
Boyle, who had not played in a game since the 2018 preseason finale, went 3for-5 for 40 yards and two touchdowns before being pulled for Manny Wilkins.
Houston would add three scoring drives in the fourth quarter to make it 28-19 with about 12 minutes left in the game.
Defensively, the Packers relied mostly on rookies and young players as well with eight of 11 starters on the depth chart not dressing. Unfortunately for Green Bay, one of those starters who did play, inside linebacker Oren Burks, injured his left shoulder early in the game.
Burks, a third-round choice out of Vanderbilt a year ago, injured that same shoulder in the third preseason game last season.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine joined LaFleur to call plays from the sideline, and his group produced two first-half turnovers. Rookie corner Ka’Dar Hollman slid in front of Texans receiver Vyncint Smith for an interception, and second-year safety Raven Greene forced a fumble that was recovered by Will Redmond.
Webb played the entire game for Houston because backup quarterback AJ McCarron injured his hand in the
Tuesday joint practice with Green Bay.
Packers make roster moves
Before the game, the Packers waived/ injured linebacker Kendall Donnerson (hamstring) and released running back Corey Grant. They also signed veteran safety Ibraheim Campbell and immediately placed him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Donnerson, a seventh-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State last season, injured his hamstring on the first day of training camp. If no one claims him, he will revert to the Packers’ injured reserve list. Grant was signed July 26, was given a $60,000 signing bonus and practiced every day he was with the club.
Campbell played three games with the Packers last season before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in Week 13, ending his season. The fifth-year veteran was a fourth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2015 when current Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was the head coach.