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For all the consternation regarding the Green Bay Packers’ plan for Sunday’s season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, the football gods seem to have bestowed a gift upon the green and gold.
The Vikings announced Wednesday afternoon that defensive end Danielle Hunter would be going on injured reserve which means, thanks to new rules for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that Hunter will miss the first three games of the regular season at least. The Vikings did not disclose what Hunter’s injury was.
This will make Packers players and coaches undoubtedly breathe easier with their plans at right tackle still uncertain thanks to injuries to Bill Turner and Rick Wagner. It should also open up the playbook more for head coach Matt LaFleur as he likely would have had to keep Marcedes Lewis inline more to assist with blocking against Hunter.
Still, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has shown he’s able to generate pressure from multiple angles so even without Hunter, the starting right tackle for Sunday’s game will still be someone to keep an eye on.
The problem is we likely won’t know who that is for a least a couple more days.
Now on to today’s curds.
Aaron Rodgers won’t have to worry about injured Vikings pass rusher Danielle Hunter—PackersNews.com
Besides the offensive line, there is probably no one happier than Aaron Rodgers not to have to face Hunter on Sunday. 5.5 of Hunter’s 54.5 career sacks have come against the Packers in five years.
Packers, Aaron Rodgers preparing for new faces on Vikings’ defense—Packers.com
The chess match between Rodgers and Zimmer has been quite a sight to behold over the years and despite no Hunter, the Vikings still added talent on defense that should challenge the quarterback despite questions remaining in the secondary.
Dalvin Cook will be ‘out there’ against Packers despite no new deal—NFL.com
Meanwhile the Green Bay defense will still have to deal with Dalvin Cook despite lingering tensions over the running back’s contract. Cook wants a new contract but that seems increasingly unlikely to happen before Sunday. That means the Packers will face an immediate test on run defense, an area they struggled in last year.
Malik Taylor of Montrose realizes dream by making Green Bay Packers roster as WR—mLive.com
Malik Taylor surprised many by making the Packers’ initial 53-man roster and the story of how a Michigan boy made it in Wisconsin is one of the best to come out training camp this year.
Man blows up part of house in France while trying to swat fly—Sky.com
I mean, that’s one way to do it, I guess. Definitely had a higher success rate than trying to shoot it.