Green Bay has a legitimate shot to win a Super Bowl, while the Jaguars are hoping to shock the league and make the playoffs.
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“Usually when most guys play their old teams they’re all like “I can’t wait to go out there and kill them and I hate them” but with me it’s nothing like that.’ I’m really more excited to show how much better I’ve gotten since my time in Green Bay”.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have chose to eschew their black, heat-absorbing home jerseys in Sunday’s season-opening game with the Packers. After not playing in the preseason and having limited practice reps – and then adding the sweltering weather into the equation – it seems unlikely that Nelson would be ready for full-time duty in the first game. The Packers had a disappointing campaign a year ago without top receiver Jordy Nelson (torn ACL) and lost the division title to the Vikings in the regular-season finale at home.
He arrived this preseason with what he described as a minor issue in his left knee. It’s easy to say you’re going to monitor someone’s snaps, but once the game gets going, your best guys tend to be out there.
“I think the identity kind of grows game to game”, Rodgers said. According to Pompei, the team grew concerned that Sitton, “known for being a bit salty”, could become a problem in the locker room after informing him that lack of interest in an extension. Coach Mike McCarthy looks like he’ll start second-year player Jake Ryan and rookie Blake Martinez in the middle of the base 3-4 scheme.
The production associated with the Nelson-Aaron Rodgers connection is due in part to Nelson’s ability to stay healthy. In his last full season in 2014, Nelson had 80 catches for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The mystery for now is just how effective Nelson will be on Sunday, and how that affects how he is covered by the Jaguars.
Coach Mike McCarthy said Nelson and Cobb are “wired very similar” in that each can play multiple receiving positions, and have a complete understanding of the entire offense. “So Jordy and Randall both have obviously an excellent understanding of our offense, and they’re great role models for our younger players”.
“It’s hard but the good thing about our situation is we have depth too”, House said.
Do you think the Green Bay Packers will pull out a Week 1 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars?
If things go as planned, Nelson would give Rodgers the missing deep threat, while Cook and tight end Richard Rodgers would offer big targets over the middle. Nelson is back, but he didn’t play a single snap in the preseason. The forecast for Jacksonville on Sunday is a high of 92 degrees and sunny.
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With rain moving through Green Bay when the Packers were slated to practice Tuesday, McCarthy moved the team inside the Don Hutson Center, which was warm and humid with the air conditioning turned off. “I think going out there today – I was in the meetings, I was at practice, I ran routes, so I don’t feel like I’m behind”.
