Green Bay Packers Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Rodgers, LaFleur Working On Play-Calling Compromise

June 25th, 2019 at 8:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Hundley’s only extended stint as a starter came in 2017, when he started nine of his 11 appearances for the Packers. That season, Hundley completed 60.8-percent of his passes for 1,836 yards, nine touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also added another 270 rushing yards and two scores on 36 carries.

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With Aaron Rodgers apparently tuning out Mike McCarthy‘s play calls, many pundits wondered how the Packers quarterback would handle a brand-new head coach. Well, Albert Breer of SI.com says the franchise quarterback is working with Matt LaFleur on a compromise. LaFleur’s system is intended to take decision-making off the quarterback’s list of responsibilities, all while allowing the offense to run quickly and more efficiently. The team is planning on using the “double call” method that was made popular by Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan, although they’ll also provide Rodgers with the freedom to adjust from there. As Breer writes, the ideal scenario is “giving Rodgers the option, but not the obligation, to make changes on the fly.”

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Packers Waive Michael Roberts

June 19th, 2019 at 3:46pm CST by Zach Links

Its been a rough offseason for Michael Roberts. On Wednesday, the Packers waived the tight end due to a failed physical, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

The Lions traded Roberts to the Patriots earlier this month for a conditional seventh-round pick. However, the deal was quickly nixed when he failed the Pats’ physical. Roberts reverted to the Lions’ roster, but the team immediately waived him.

The Packers, wanting to see what the 2017 fourth-round pick could offer, picked Roberts up. But, after failing his second physical in the span of a week, Roberts may have to take some time off before landing his next NFL opportunity. The exact reason for Roberts’ failed physical is not yet known, but it’s likely tied to the shoulder injury that sidelined him midway through 2018.

Roberts, 25, has 13 career receptions for 146 yards. The Toledo alum, who caught three touchdown passes last season despite playing in just eight games, still has his practice squad eligibility.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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LaFleur Explains Stance On Rodgers Autonomy

June 17th, 2019 at 8:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

The freedom Aaron Rodgers may or may not have to change plays at the line of scrimmage has become an issue in Green Bay, and first-year Packers HC Matt LaFleur explained the concern he has with enabling his decorated quarterback to have the kind of pre-snap autonomy he did under Mike McCarthy.

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Packers Claim TE Michael Roberts

June 17th, 2019 at 4:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michael Roberts‘ complicated stretch continues. The tight end has now been traded, waived and claimed in a span of five days.

With the Lions waiving Roberts after their trade with the Patriots fell through, he may have an opportunity in Green Bay. The Packers claimed the third-year tight end off waivers Monday, Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk notes.

The Lions did not use an injury designation when waiving Roberts. He will join a more crowded tight end contingent with the Packers than he would have with the Patriots. Jimmy Graham, Lance Kendricks and third-round pick Jace Sternberger reside on Green Bay’s depth chart. The Packers also claimed tight end Pharoah McKever off waivers from the Jaguars recently.

Roberts, 25, has 13 career receptions for 146 yards. The Toledo alum, who caught three touchdown passes last season despite playing in just eight games, retains practice squad eligibility. Roberts suffered a shoulder injury that resulted in the former fourth-round pick finishing the 2018 season on IR.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Issue Emerging Between Rodgers, LaFleur?

June 16th, 2019 at 7:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tasked with adjusting to a new offense for the first time in his tenure as an NFL starter, Aaron Rodgers showed a bit of resistance to Matt LaFleur‘s new attack this week. At least, the Packers‘ future Hall of Fame quarterback does not want to be limited at the line of scrimmage. The first-year head coach’s system does not feature the same kind of pre-snap flexibility Rodgers previously enjoyed.

LaFleur said earlier this offseason the plan will be for Rodgers to either run the called play or switch to one alternative, and Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel anticipates some pushback on this. A detailed story this offseason examined Rodgers’ checkered history with Mike McCarthy, so the Packers are facing a crucial season — one in which their two-time MVP turn 36 — so getting their passer and head coach on the same page figures to be essential. While LaFleur said this week he does not want to minimize Rodgers’ penchant for off-script brilliance, it does appear the Packers have some sorting out to accomplish.

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Packers Promote Two In Front Office

June 14th, 2019 at 9:34pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Texans aren’t the only team shuffling around their front office. The Packers promoted Richmond Williams to director of pro personnel and Brett Thiesen to college scout, per Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com. Williams is entering his twelfth year with the team, and originally joined Green Bay as a scouting intern all the way back in 2007. Green Bay’s power structure remains unchanged, with team president Mark Murphy and GM Brian Gutekunst still running the show.

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Packers Release RB Kapri Bibbs

June 14th, 2019 at 5:06pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Kapri Bibbs didn’t last very long with the Packers. The team released the veteran running back Friday, a source told Field Yates of ESPN.com.

Green Bay claimed Bibbs off waivers from the Redskins in December of last year, and he spent the end of the season with them. In two games with the Packers, Bibbs carried the ball one time for two yards and caught three passes for 13 yards. In 2016 with the Broncos and 2017 with the Redskins Bibbs occasionally flashed, but has never gotten consistent playing time.

In ten games with Washington last year before being cut, Bibbs had 20 carries for 101 yards and three touchdowns, with 13 receptions for 102 yards and another touchdown. The Packers didn’t announce a corresponding roster move, so they currently have one spot open on their 90-man roster. A move could come later this weekend or on Monday.

The Packers have Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams atop the depth chart, and just drafted Dexter Williams in the sixth round. Bibbs was no higher than fourth, so he was never going to make much of an impact. He’s a decent pass-catcher out of the backfield and has always played special teams, so he should resurface somewhere at some point.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Vikings Working Out P Drew Kaser

June 12th, 2019 at 9:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran punter Drew Kaser worked out for the Vikings on Wednesday, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link).

Kaser joined fellow free agent punters Justin Vogel and Shane Tripucka in auditioning for Minnesota, which is apparently looking to create some competition for incumbent punter Matt Wile. A 2015 undrafted free agent, Wile just completed his first full NFL campaign, one in which he ranked 10th in net punting average. As a team, the Vikings’ punt unit finished eighth in Football Outsiders‘ punting metrics.

Kaser, 26, was selected by the Chargers in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. The Texas A&M product was the Bolts’ full-time punter in both 2016 and 2017, but was cut after struggling in four games last season. Kaser, who ranked 31st in net punting average at the time of his release, briefly latched on with the Packers last November while Green Bay punter JK Scott‘s wife was expecting a baby, but he wasn’t ultimately called on to play.

Free agent punter Austin Rehkow also participated in today’s workout, tweets Chris Tomasson of the Pionner Press. Rekhow, undrafted out of Idaho in 2017, recently played for the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of the American Football.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Packers GM On Josh Jones Situation

June 11th, 2019 at 6:42pm CST by Rory Parks

Packers safety Josh Jones skipped OTAs in the hopes of forcing a trade out of Green Bay, but he did report to mandatory minicamp, which opened today, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. However, Jones has not changed his mind about wanting out.

Jones said that he reported for mandatory minicamp because it’s mandatory (and he would be subject to fines if he skipped). He added, “I’m also a part of the Green Bay Packers, so that’s why I came.”

GM Brian Gutekunst said the 2017 second-rounder did not practice today because of a hamstring injury, but Demovsky speculates that the Packers simply don’t want to risk Jones getting hurt and jeopardizing their chances of trading or cutting him. Gutekunst added that what he decides to do with Jones will not be impacted by Jones’ wishes. Gutekunst said, “I think it’s more about what our team desire is, and right now we’re kind of working through that. But he’s a very talented player. He’s shown that on the field at the times. We’ll go along and see where it goes.”

Despite his status as a recent high draft choice, Jones has not yet emerged as a full-time starter. He started the team’s final four games last year, but that was primarily due to an injury sustained by Kentrell Brice. Jones finished the 2018 campaign with 55 tackles, one sack, and two passes defended in 13 games (five starts). Pro Football Focus ended up ranking Jones 70th among 93 eligible safeties.

The Packers invested heavily on the safety position this offseason. The team inked former Bears safety Adrian Amos to a four-year, $36MM deal, and later traded up in the first round of April’s draft to select Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr..

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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