Green Bay’s rookies answer the call and help Packers cope with early-season injuries to veterans

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Inexperienced Bay Packers’ “TikTok infants” are exhibiting that their time has arrived.

With the NFL’s youngest roster within the first 12 months of their post-Aaron Rodgers period, the Packers (1-1) are leaning closely on their 13-man draft class as they put together for his or her house opener Sunday towards the New Orleans Saints (2-0). Rookies accounted for all of the Packers’ factors of their 25-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

“I bear in mind coming into rookie minicamp, all of us simply coming in like misplaced flies,” mentioned extensive receiver Jayden Reed, a second-round decide from Michigan State. “We didn’t know what to do. After which as time went on, we communicated higher as a gaggle. That helped us study the playbook higher and simply grow to be higher rookies.”

They certain don’t look misplaced anymore.

Reed reached the tip zone twice towards the Falcons. Dontayvion Wicks, a fifth-round choice from Virginia, scored Inexperienced Bay’s different landing. Anders Carlson, a sixth-round decide from Auburn, kicked a 33-yard discipline objective and was 3 of three on extra-point makes an attempt.

First-round decide Lukas Van Ness of Iowa and sixth-round choice Karl Brooks from Bowling Inexperienced every recorded a sack and Carlson kicked a 52-yard discipline objective in a season-opening 38-20 victory at Chicago. Tight finish Luke Musgrave, a second-round decide from Oregon State, has 5 catches for 75 yards this season.

“I feel that the preliminary publicity to them, you might inform it was a gifted bunch,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned. “After which as you get to study them and also you get to see how a lot they care about soccer and the work that they put in, you understand it’s received an opportunity to be a very particular group.”

That displays the altering face of the Packers as they adapt to life with out Rodgers, the four-time MVP quarterback now with the New York Jets.

The typical age of the gamers on the Packers’ season-opening roster was 25.13, making them the league’s youngest staff. Veteran outdoors linebacker Preston Smith, one among solely three Packers of their 30s, mentioned earlier than the season how totally different this staff regarded with so many youthful gamers.

“These youngsters are TikTok infants,” Smith mentioned on the time. “They’re expertise youngsters. I used to be an out of doors child rising up. It’s simply totally different, man. It’s most likely like after I was younger (and teammates mentioned), ‘Oh man, I don’t ever see myself taking part in with a child born within the ‘90s.’ Now, I’m taking part in with a bunch of 2000 infants. These youngsters don’t even find out about among the cartoons I noticed rising up. They’re from this new age — anime and stuff like that.”

They’ve discovered a option to thrive collectively.

Van Ness, the thirteenth general decide on this 12 months’s draft, credit Smith for setting an instance.

“He’s only a nice man to take heed to, sit again and see how he processes the sport,” Van Ness mentioned. “I’ve realized quite a bit from him.”

Inexperienced Bay’s receivers don’t have the luxurious of working alongside older veterans.

When Wicks talks in regards to the “older guys” within the receiving room who’ve helped the rookies out, he’s referring to second-year execs Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure and Bo Melton. That exhibits simply how little expertise the Packers have at that place.

Reed took a flip move from Jordan Love within the backfield and turned it right into a 9-yard landing within the second quarter of the Falcons recreation. Wicks had a 32-yard landing catch and Reed scored on a 10-yard reception within the third quarter.

Wicks missed a part of the preseason with a hamstring concern, however he’s returned and helped the Packers stand up to hamstring accidents to Watson and veteran working again Aaron Jones.

“I used to be down quite a bit in camp, and I do know accidents occur,” Wicks mentioned. “So (it was a matter of) simply ready on that second, and when it did come, stepping up and having the ability to be trusted on the market.”

Musgrave says he and the rookie wideouts have benefited from Love’s management. Although Love has made simply three profession begins, his standing as a fourth-year professional makes him one of many extra skilled guys on this offense.

“He’s a fantastic commander on the market,” Musgrave mentioned. “He’s capable of command the offense nicely and is form of a comforting sense within the huddle. I’d attribute a variety of it to him and the teaching we get.”

Their instant success has the rookie move catchers questioning how good this offense will be when their veterans are wholesome sufficient to affix them.

“Man, I simply suppose it can get scary as soon as all of the items get put collectively,” Reed mentioned. “That’s what I’m trying ahead to.”

NOTES: Jones, Watson, Van Ness (elbow), OT David Bakhtiari (knee) and CB Jaire Alexander (again) are all questionable for Sunday’s recreation. OG Elgton Jenkins (knee) and S Zayne Anderson (hamstring) have been dominated out.