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Though NFL teams don’t have to reduce their active roster during the preseason, the Green Bay Packers have declared several players unavailable for Thursday night’s exhibition opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unsurprisingly, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson will spend the game on the sidelines.
The Packers have become increasingly conservative when it comes to exposing their veteran players to preseason action. A year ago, Rodgers appeared in just one exhibition game during the preseason’s third week. Nelson saw even less activity as the team decided to hold him out entirely while he worked his way back from a torn ACL.
Neither Rodgers nor Nelson currently has an injury, but Green Bay never seemed interested in giving either player any run during the preseason opener. Brett Hundley worked under center with the No. 1 offense during the week while Rodgers led the scout team. Don’t expect to see that approach change until the third week of the preseason again.
Below is the full list of Packers not participating in the preseason opener:
- QB - Aaron Rodgers (healthy scratch)
- WR - Jordy Nelson (healthy scratch)
- TE - Richard Rodgers (finger)
- WR - Colby Pearson (ankle)
- CB - Davon House (hamstring)
- CB - Demetri Goodson (knee)
- OLB - Vince Biegel (foot)
- TE - Beau Sandland (knee)
- DT - Montravius Adams (foot)