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Cheese Curds, 12/29: Packers’ defense gets creative, Wagner’s injury “not serious”

Green Bay got some encouraging news on an injured lineman on Monday, while a look back shows that DC Mike Pettine called his most creative game of the season.

NFL: Green Bay Packers Training Camp Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The Green Bay Packers got some good news on the injury front on Monday. After seeing right tackle Rick Wagner leave the field on a cart on Sunday with a knee injury, there was ample concern for his ability to play again this season. However, head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday that Wagner’s injury does not appear to be serious, a good sign for the former Wisconsin Badger’s ability to return to the field in the next few weeks.

The ideal scenario would be for Wagner to sit out next Sunday’s game in Chicago, for the Packers to win, and to get a week off and allow him to return for the Divisional Round.

Also in Sunday’s game against the Titans, Mike Pettine broke some tendencies with how he deployed his defense. He got creative with his fronts and played more man coverage on the back end, and it paid off as the team got two interceptions and corralled Derrick Henry most of the night.

Here’s a look at how Pettine used that creativity to keep Tennessee in check, as well as how safety Darnell Savage has emerged in the last several weeks.

What You Might’ve Missed: Unconventional looks | Packers.com
Mike Pettine got creative on Sunday, using everything from a six-man line against a 3-tight end set to putting two edge rushers on the weak side to blitzing six rushers on first down.

Green Bay Packers' line displays versatility after Rick Wagner injury | Packersnews.com
Wagner's injury is not serious, according to Matt LaFleur, which is good news as he has been a solid presence at right tackle in recent weeks. Getting Corey Linsley back for Sunday's game was critical, but Wagner being available helps unlock a number of combinations and possibilities for the front five.

Lambeau Leaps aside, AJ Dillon shows what he can do for Packers' offense - ESPN
Will Dillon's breakout game affect how the Packers handle their free agent running backs this offseason? It would be unwise to make any long-term decisions after just one game, but he at least showed the potential to be a feature back.

Packers’ Darnell Savage emerging as elite NFL safety | Packers Wire
Savage has allowed a passer rating of single-digits into his coverage since week 10 and Pro Football Focus has him as the highest-graded safety in the NFL over that time.

Aaron Rodgers Compares Davante Adams to Charles Woodson - Sports Illustrated
“I’ve said for so long that Charles (Woodson) was the best player that I played with. It’s probably time to start putting Davante in that conversation,” Aaron Rodgers said. That's high praise, given how much Rodgers has talked about Woodson over the years.

Sarcastic weatherman explains how to brush snow off a car | Boing Boing
We hope that everyone can learn a great lesson from this weatherman, who has had enough of people driving around in the snow without their windows fully cleared off.