Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Gutekunst discusses team’s lack of a trade
Green Bay — Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst met with the media for the first since Sept. 6 on Sunday evening, in large part to talk about the four-year extension the club gave left tackle David Bakhtiari. The deal could be worth up to $105.5 million.
But after the Nov. 3 trade deadline that saw the club reportedly call at least two teams to inquire about wide receiver help and one team on a defensive lineman, Gutekunst was asked about not making a deal.
“I think we’re always aware of how any individual move we might make could affect future years,” he said. “Like every year, we were mindful of what was out there. We looked at a few things to see if we could make it work.
“At the end of the day, I think you guys saw across the league there wasn’t much movement at all.
“I think that has a lot to do with what’s happening in 2021 with the cap and the situation we’re in with COVID. Again, I think we’re always looking for ways to improve our team no matter where we sit, and we certainly were at the trade deadline.”
When asked if the negotiations toward extending Bakhtiari — which resets the left tackle market and lowered the Packers’ available 2020 cap space to around $5 million — impacted the Packers from acquiring a player, the general manager was succinct: “No, not at all,” Gutekunst said.
Maligned defense delivered with game on line
One play earlier, a third-and-short with the game on the line, Packers running back Aaron Jones took a handoff and was stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
If coach Matt LaFleur was thinking about going for it on fourth down, his best running back gaining no yards might have put the kibosh on that idea. Even if the analytics supported going for it, LaFleur wasn’t persuaded.
“I did not consider it at the time,” LaFleur said.
His decision to punt with 2:32 left in Sunday’s 24-20 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars also allowed the Packers’ maligned defense a chance to shine. To that point, the defense had only allowed 13 points — seven came on a punt returned for touchdown — but that was overshadowed by yet another 100-yard rusher. With 109 yards, rookie James Robinson had further highlighted the inability of the Packers’ defense to stop the run.
That was the story at the 2-minute warning.
The Packers hope what happened in the final 2 minutes is something they can build on in the season’s second half.
After a 30-yard punt into a stiff wind from JK Scott, the Jaguars took over with a short field at their own 47. They needed a touchdown to win, to shock the NFL with a stunning upset. In seven plays, the final a fourth-and-26 from the Jaguars 48, the Packers defense made sure there would be no surprise.
“I think that’s really encouraging,” LaFleur said. “You could really feel the rush there on the last three consecutive snaps, really getting to and affecting the quarterback. Any time you can get that, you have a great chance at winning, especially when you’re in those passing situations.
“I thought that was very, very encouraging to be able to go out there and close out the game on the defensive side of the ball and move them way back.”
The Jaguars’ final drive started out well enough to think the Packers’ defense might be in trouble. They got a first down on third-and-2 when Robinson picked up 9 yards. Then the Packers’ pass rush that has been lacking much of this season kicked in.
On second-and-10 with 93 seconds left, Rashan Gary sacked Jaguars quarterback Jake Luton for a 6-yard loss. On third-and-16, Preston Smith sacked Luton for a 10-yard loss.
By fourth-and-26, the Packers had put the game to bed. The defense hopes it’s a much-needed injection of confidence going forward.
“The field position that we got out in late in the game, you know, wasn’t ideal at first,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. “And we needed a couple of critical stops and, you know, we had our young corners in there and guys trying to get back on track doing their part. And I think that was a huge step for our defense to stop them from, you know, winning the game. So that was huge for us.”
Lovett out for the season
Packers tight end John Lovett will miss the rest of the 2020 season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in practice last week.
The injury was unrelated to a knee issue he had been playing through, according to a league source.
“What an unfortunate circumstance and just something you don’t really see very often, obviously in practice,” LaFleur said last Friday. “It’s like the stars were aligned, man, in order for that to happen and it’s really unfortunate because you talk about a guy that will do anything for the football team. The intensity that he brings, the effort, the energy, he is all about the team. I feel just sick about it.”
Lovett, 24, began the year on the practice squad but had played in all eight games and developed into a core special teamer, playing 112 snaps.
Ervin injured
Return specialist and offensive weapon Tyler Ervin was lost to the Packers in the second quarter Sunday when he took a hard shot to the ribs by Jaguars corner Sidney Jones IV while catching a 3-yard pass off a motion. After Jones sent Ervin airborne, Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack hit Ervin again – a to-the-whistle play that spurred Bakhtiari to run over and shove Jack.
Unfortunately for the Packers, that play ended Ervin’s day.
He had missed games against Tampa Bay and Houston with a wrist injury.
“I know this, our offense wouldn’t be as productive without him on the field,” LaFleur said last week. “And when he misses time like he did a couple games ago, it certainly left a little bit of a void in our offense. It was a little it harder to game plan, for sure. He’s a big part of what we do.”
How Packers honor players
The death of Pro Football Hall of Famer running back Paul Hornung on Friday and safety Herb Adderley on Oct. 30 had Packers fans wondering if the team would honor the pair in the same fashion they did Hall of Famer Willie Davis, who died April 15.
Davis, also a Pro Football Hall of Famer, wore No. 87 and the club placed that decal on the helmets of players and signage on Lambeau Field.
Hornung and Adderley will not have their numbers recognized in this way, but there is a process for the organization in making those decisions.
Usually, the team only recognizes players with a helmet decal and signage on the field if they had been a Pro Football Hall of Famer and had their number retired by the team. For example, the club honored the late Bart Starr in this fashion in 2019. Neither Hornung nor Adderley have had their numbers retired.
Davis’ No. 87 has not been retired by the team but in the organization’s view the former defensive lineman earned the distinction because of his long-time association with the Packers after retirement.
He had served on the board of directors since 1994.
For Hornung and Adderley, who died during the season, the team produced individual video tributes. Hornung's was shown inside Lambeau Field on Sunday.
Generally, if a former player dies in the offseason they are honored during a video tribute on alumni weekend.
Former Bear has praise for Hornung
On Saturday, former Chicago Bears tight end and head coach Mike Ditka had kind words for Hornung.
Said Ditka: “When I was in high school, I went to the Pitt-Notre Dame game. I have to say, Notre Dame was not very good in those days, but Paul Hornung was the best player on that football field. He played running back, quarterback, linebacker, and defensive back that day. And he handled the kicking and punting too.
“Off the field, I know he was known as a big playboy. But I knew him well and to me he was real and a great football player on those great Lombardi teams. I'll miss my friend Paul.”
Packers out of intensive protocol
After having running back AJ Dillon (Nov. 1) and linebacker Krys Barnes (Nov. 5) test positive for COVID-19 on consecutive game days, the Packers had been operating under the league's intensive protocols for the virus to keep it from spreading throughout the team. Part of those protocols include stricter distancing and mask-wearing practices.
On Monday, LaFleur said the team is now out of that protocol but will continue to employ some elements of it as a precaution going forward.
“We know how important it is to have everybody available,” LaFleur said. “When you look at some of these close contacts and losing a guy like Jamaal Williams or Kamal Martin, when we went into that San Francisco game, that was a big deal.”
Packers swap running backs
Dexter Williams sprained a medial collateral ligament in a knee against San Francisco on Nov. 5 and the Packers
placed the second-year running back on injured reserve last week. To replace him, the club signed running back Mike Weber, a seventh-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2019 out of Ohio State. He spent most of that year on the Cowboys' practice squad before finishing it on the Kansas City practice squad. The Chiefs cut him in May.
Equipment manager nominated
Packers assistant equipment manager Tom Bakken was the club's nominee for the league's “Salute to Service” award. It is an annual award given to a league member who “demonstrates an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community.” Bakken was also nominated by the club in 2016.
Bakken, who has been with the club for 26 years, has coordinated the flyovers over Lambeau Field since 2001. He also coordinated a trip to the Middle East with nine players following the Packers' Super Bowl victory in 2010.
Finalists for the award are scheduled to be announced in January and the winner will be recognized at the NFL Honors award show, which is scheduled to air the week of Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay.
Martin Hendricks contributed to this report.