Packers vs. Titans, 2014 Preseason: Five Players to Evaluate

The Green Bay Packers will begin their 2014 season tonight in Tennessee against the Titans. This is the first matchup between these two teams since the Packers demolished the Titans 55-7 back in 2012 at Lambeau Field. Before the game starts, we highlight five players whose performances in the first preseason game will be important to monitor.

Davante Adams

The young product out of Fresno State has been lighting things up for the past week or so in practice. He's starting to build momentum and push third-year receiver Jarrett Boykin for the No.3 spot in the rotation. For the majority of the game Adams will get reps with backup Matt Flynn, but still, the two connected often and well when I attended practice last week. Oh, and check out this video from practice when he put Casey Hayward on skates if you haven't done so already.

JC Tretter

Aaron Rodgers will take snaps with his fourth different center on Saturday with JC Tretter under center. Rodgers along with linemen T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton have given good remarks on Tretter throughout the off-season on his intelligence. I wrote this story back during OTA's on Rodgers discussing how important it is to have continuity at the center position. Tretter struggled this week in pads against B.J. Raji, but eventually bounced back to finish strong. With this start being the first NFL game action of his career, how will he fare? It should be interesting.

Richard Rodgers

Speaking of OTA's, Richard Rodgers was one of the main headlines earlier this summer shortly upon the Packers going on a month-long break before Training Camp. He's been relatively quiet since camp has begun with Brandon Bostick getting most of the reps and Andrew Quarless returning from injury. Bostick and Quarless are likely to receive reps tomorrow before Rodgers, so his time on the field will be even more valuable. Can he show the skills that made him stand out in the offseason program tonight?

Sean Richardson

Morgan Burnett will not play in Saturday's game due because of an oblique strain. Although most of the attention has shifted towards Micah Hyde and rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Sean Richardson is very much stirring his name in the pot for the starting safety job and secondary for a bigger role. He's looked pretty sharp in camp, and his head coach Mike McCarthy has been impressed. Friday I read this interesting piece from Bucky Brooks of NFL Network on big nickel safeties in today's game. It only got me thinking about what could be in Green Bay this season.

Derek Sherrod

Lane Taylor and Derek Sherrod are the two guys the Packers will rely on as backups for the offensive line after the season-ending injury to Don Barclay. Sherrod will likely be the backup at both tackles spots, and Taylor at guard. Sherrod's health and performance on the field will be relied upon this upcoming season. If he can start off strong, it'll help tone down the panic regarding the depth on this offensive line barring another injury (*knocks on wood*).

Saturday's game will begin at approximately 7.p.m. CDT. Follow along with us at APC during the game for the latest news and updates.