Packers announce captains for preseason opener against Texans

The Green Bay Packers have been known to rotate their captains in years past, with former head coach Mike McCarthy spreading the jersey patch around throughout the preseason and regular season. Only once the team made the playoffs did they settle on permanent captains for as long as they remained alive in the postseason.

It appears that at least in the preseason, Matt LaFleur is taking a similar approach. The team announced their captains for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans a few hours before kickoff, and the group consists of players who will presumably suit up and play at least a little bit in the game.

On offense, a pair of veterans get the call tonight. Lane Taylor represents the offensive line as one of today’s captains, while wide receiver Geronimo Allison represents the skill position groups. Taylor is heading into his seventh NFL season and fourth as a starter, while Allison will be in his fourth year overall in 2019. However, both players will likely be out of the game fairly early tonight. Taylor will probably be one of only a few starting offensive linemen to suit up, while Allison will probably play some in the first half before giving way to the large number of young receivers battling for roster spots.

On defense, the Packers went with a pair of linebackers who should get some fairly substantial playing time this evening, despite having secure spots on the 53. Fourth-year outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell and second-year inside linebacker Oren Burks will don the Cs today. Burks in particular should get some good playing time as the Packers try to establish him as the starter next to Blake Martinez. Meanwhile, Fackrell should get some reps in the first half with limited (if any) snaps going to free agent arrivals Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith.

Finally, although the Packers typically have two special teams captains for regular season games, they will have just one tonight: kicker Mason Crosby. Crosby is getting some training camp competition this year in the form of Sam Ficken, and the long-tenured veteran missed the first week-plus of practice with an injury. However, he came off the non-football injury list on Sunday and should split kicking duties with Ficken in this evening’s game.

Stay tuned for updates from Lambeau Field leading up to and during tonight’s game.