Filed Under: Aaron Nagler#PackersDailyPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Minnesota VikingsTags: Green Bay PackersPackers Daily Like 0 points

Filed Under: FeaturedPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Minnesota VikingsTags: Green Bay PackersLet's Talk Football Like 0 points

The time is finally here: Wild Card week. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will square off for the third time this season. The division rivals split their matchups earlier this season, both filled with late-game dramatics. The Packers won the first battle in Week 14 by a score of 28-21. Keisean Nixon came away with a late, game-sealing interception. The Bears came back and won the second clash by a score of 22-16. The Packers held a 16-6 lead at one point, but a botched onside kick and blown coverage allowed the Bears to come back and eventually win. The first two matchups have been cinematic, and round three is set up to be just as exciting as the first two. The Packers aren't exactly entering the playoffs with much momentum. They are riding a four-game losing streak, which started with their loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 15. It was the same day they lost the heart and soul of their defense, Micah Parsons. They also had several other key players get injured that day, with the injuries continuing to linger. That said, the Packers chose to get some of their key players rest yesterday against Minnesota. They will head into next weekend as healthy as they’ve been in weeks. The Bears head into next weekend having lost their last two games, their last win coming against Green Bay. They lost an epic shootout against San Francisco in Week 17, and then lost in a walk-off fashion against the Detroit Lions yesterday afternoon. Chicago’s last two games have been both physically and emotionally draining, so they won’t be entering the playoffs rested and refreshed either. Next Saturday’s game should be a fun one. Green Bay undoubtedly wanted to play Chicago again instead of traveling to Philadelphia. At the same time, Chicago probably would rather host Green Bay than either San Francisco or Los Angeles. Both teams got exactly what they wanted. The Packers haven’t exactly played inspiring football as of late, but they have shown they have what it takes to beat this Bears team. They need their best players to be at their best, but they could also use a boost from some new and fresh faces. Here are some under-the-radar players who have a chance to make an impact in the playoffs: Packers HC Matt LaFleur on Jonathan Ford: "He's a massive human. I'm looking forward to seeing how much he's progressed over the course of a year from when he was last here." — Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) December 31, 2025 Jonathan Ford The big defensive linemen could definitely provide some help to Green Bay’s run defense, something they desperately need to stabilize. The Packers allowed 683 yards on the ground during their four-game losing streak, including 216 to Derrick Henry. Jordan Riley, whom the Packers were excited about, just went on IR last week. The Packers also decided to move on from Quinton Bohanna after he was being blown off the ball on every snap. That leaves Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, and Nazir Stackhouse as the only other healthy options. At this point, the Packers will take any healthy body they can find that doesn’t get pushed five yards back on every play. The Packers drafted Ford in the seventh-round of the 2022 NFL draft. The big defensive linemen spent about two and a half years on Green Bay’s practice squad before being signed to the Chicago Bears’ active roster. Now that he’s back with the Packers, Ford knows he has a chance to make an impact, and he can do it against his former team. “[Covington] told me you got a big shot this week. Opportunity to go out there and show that you can help us in the playoffs, and that’s all I want to do is just go and help this team as much as I can.” Ford isn’t going to come in and solve all of Green Bay’s issues in the run game, but his size and experience in Hafley’s defense can’t hurt. Both Wooden and Brooks are getting worn down. Brinson and Stackhouse have lacked consistency. Chicago has a very physical rushing attack, so it won’t be easy, but it’s not out of the question. Ford just needs to come in and hold his own, which he did yesterday. Over the 30 snaps that Ford played, held up decently at the point of attack and ate up some blocks. He even recorded two tackles. That’s all the Packers can really ask for. He isn’t a pass rusher or a disruptive presence on the interior, but he’s a big body who just can’t get pushed backwards. If Ford can do that, Green Bay’s defense will benefit. Really nice first NFL start for #99 Barryn Sorrell! The Packers rookie 4th round pick looks and plays like an NFL starter. pic.twitter.com/GF7a9h8IND — Daire Carragher (@DaireCarragher) January 5, 2026 Barryn Sorrell Ever since Micah Parsons went down with a torn ACL, the Packers have been looking for anyone to step up on the edge. Rashan Gary hasn’t made an impactful play since Week 9. Kingsley Enagbare has made a few splash plays, but they’ve been few and far between. Lukas Van Ness is starting to get healthier, but he won’t solve all of the problems either. That leaves Barryn Sorrell. Sorrell hasn’t made much of an impact throughout the season, but he hasn’t had many opportunities. Sorrell’s first big opportunity came yesterday in Minnesota, and he took advantage. The rookie edge rusher finished yesterday’s game playing ___ snaps. He recorded eight total tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery. Sorrell held up well against the run, including a third-down stop where he was able to tackle Ty Chandler for a one-yard loss. He was a part of five run stops on the day. Sorrell also flashed as a pass rusher, recording one of the Packers' two sacks and three pressures. Sorrell was happy with his performance, and the Packers had to have been as well. "I think that was the thing going into this game," Sorrell said after the game. "Knowing we all got our opportunity, and we want to make the most of it. I'm happy with what I put on tape." It’s important to keep things in perspective: Sorrell still will be fourth on Green Bay’s edge depth chart. He’s not going to come in and replicate what Micah Parsons did. But Sorrell doesn’t need to do that. He just needs to play his role at a high level. If Sorrell can carry any of last week’s successes into next week’s game, the Packers would certainly welcome it with open arms. If Rashan Gary isn’t going to make an impact, maybe Barryn Sorrell can. Watch those blinds spots, Diggs pic.twitter.com/gPJtXPHnLj — Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 5, 2026 Trevon Diggs Green Bay’s cornerback room is beaten, battered, and broken. Kamal Hadden and Nate Hobbs both were both placed on IR last week. Keisean Nixon has been playing some of his worst football of the season. Carrington Valentine might have found himself in the coach’s doghouse after his embarrassing display of tackling. Even Javon Bullard and Bo Melton left Sunday’s game banged up. Enter Trevon Diggs. The Packers acquired Diggs last week on waivers after the Cowboys decided to release the former All-Pro cornerback. Diggs had been struggling to stay healthy, but even when Diggs was healthy, he wasn’t playing very well. But for the Packers, they’ll take whatever help they can get. The Packers took a chance on a veteran corner with elite ball skills, and the early returns are encouraging. The Packers got to see Diggs in action yesterday, and his debut went about as well as it could have. Per PFF, the veteran corner was only targeted once and didn't allow it to be caught. He also showed physicality when tackling, recording three tackles on the day. After the game, Matt LaFleur said Diggs can “absolutely” help the Packers in the playoffs, and they may even consider starting him next week. "You have no idea of how it's going until you look at the tape," he says. "I think it was good for him to just hear some of the calls, get acclimated with our defense, and I think we can build on that going into this week." Diggs might not have the same impact that Rasul Douglas had when the Packers brought him in midway through the 2021 season, but he should get the opportunity to make his mark. He could go out there next week and be terrible, but that’s not really any worse than what the Packers were getting from Valentine and Nixon. Diggs has the pedigree and experience to make an impact on this defense. He also seems to be in the right mindset. "Green Bay is a wonderful place,” Diggs said after the game. “It feels like a family here. These guys, I have a lot of my old teammates here, and everything feels tight. I’m clicking with all the guys. It’s perfect." Diggs looked very comfortable in his first game in Jeff Hafley's defense https://t.co/o5YjMepkHG pic.twitter.com/DLaj7KqyS6 — Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) January 5, 2026 Jakobie Keeney-James This addition to the list might be grasping for straws, but Keeney-James is at least worth consideration. The range of outcomes for Keeney-James is as wide as anyone on the roster. He may not even play next weekend. The Packers may end up releasing him from the active roster and hope to get him back to the practice squad. The other possibility is that Keeney-James could end up opening the playoffs as Green Bay’s primary returner. The rookie wide receiver lined up as both the punt and kick returner yesterday in what was his NFL debut. With Savion Williams and Bo Melton both banged up, Keeney-James could find himself thrust back into action next weekend in Chicago. Keeney-James’ debut as a return man wasn’t anything special, but neither are Green Bay’s special teams units. Keeney-James returned two kicks on the day for an average of 23.5 yards per return. He made a mistake on one of the kickoffs by taking a knee while one of his feet was outside of the end zone, which resulted in a touchback, but the Packers got the ball at the 20-yard line instead of the 35. It was a rookie mistake by the rookie return man. Keeney-James possesses the skill set and physical traits to be a quality returner. He’s listed at 6’0”, 190 pounds, and moves very well. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and tested very well in the agility testing. Keeney-James looked very comfortable catching both kickoffs and punts, moreso than Romeo Doubs and Savion Williams. A change wouldn’t be the worst thing, since the Packers rank 23rd in average kick return yards and 32nd in average punt return yards. If the opportunity comes, Keeney-James could provide a much-needed lift to Green Bay’s return units. Filed Under: Packers NewsFeaturedGreen Bay PackersCarter Semb PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Carter Semb is a lifelong Packer fan, shareholder, and season ticket holder. He is a contributor for Cheesehead TV and Packers Talk. For commentary surrounding Wisconsin sports, he can be found on X at @cmsemb. __________________________ NFL Categories: Chicago BearsGreen Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsTags: green bay packersMatt LaFleurTrevon DiggsBarryn SorrellJonathan FordJakobie Keeney-James Like 0 points

I’m baaaaaaack. Hopefully this is welcome news and you didn’t just sigh deeply and close your browser tab. I was really debating starting this post with “Dearest Readers” but I thought the venn diagram between Cheesehead TV readers and Bridgerton watchers might be slim, so I scrapped that.  Anyway, I want to introduce you to a new series I’ll be kicking off for Cheesehead TV starting this Saturday, the 10th. But I’m going to need your help. You see, this isn’t just any weekly column. We’re doing a mailbag. And mailbags are only successful if I have you, the readers, submitting your thoughts and questions each week for me to respond to.  Do you have questions about Green Bay’s run defense going into the postseason? I do too. And honestly if I had answers for that I’d probably be working on an NFL coaching staff and not writing for Cheesehead TV. Do you have questions about beer styles and their respective NFL positions? Easy. Defensive linemen are stouts. Next question.  But really. I enjoyed my “maternity leave” and couldn’t be happier to be back writing for Cheesehead TV again. This series will be what we make it, so let’s chat about our favorite football team and have some fun doing it. Send your questions to chtvmailbag@gmail.com for a chance to be featured each week.  Filed Under: FeaturedMaggie Loney   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Maggie Loney is a writer for Cheesehead TV and podcaster for the Pack-A-Day Podcast and Pack's What She Said. Find her on Twitter at @MaggieJLoney. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: fan questionsPackers Q&AMailbagsubmissions Like 0 points

Here's my scouting report on Missouri defensive end Zion Young, in advance of the 2026 NFL Draft. Filed Under: Newt Westen   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Newt Westen is the Founder of 0-Tech Draft, contributor for The Draft Professor and Lead NFL Draft Analyst for CheeseheadTV.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan and you can follow Newt at @NFLDraft_Westen on X. __________________________ Tags: NFL Draft Like 0 points

This game meant nothing This was as close to a preseason game as a regular season game can be, with nothing on the line for either team, and the Packers resting starters with their playoff spot already secured for next week. Clayton Tune’s presence at quarterback made it very difficult to evaluate anything on offense, but there were some positive signs from young players on the defensive side of the ball. The main thing was exiting the game healthy, which the Packers mostly managed to do, with Javon Bullard’s having seemingly avoided a problem which could keep him out of the Wild Card round. It was about as pointless as a game can possibly be, and there is not too much to glean from it ultimately. Solid outing for young offensive linemen Tune had a rough day at quarterback, but it was mostly not due to the offensive line, which had some promising performances, particularly from some of the younger players against a Brian Flores defense which provides a real challenge. Jordan Morgan, making his first NFL start at left tackle, was charged with a sack, but it looked to be a broken play more than anything else, and did not appear to actually be his fault. That was the only pressure he allowed on the day. Anthony Belton arguably had his best game as a pro, earning a 76.9 grade from PFF, by far his best mark of the season. Center Jacob Monk also fared pretty well, picking up a 76 grade from PFF. There will be more change on the offensive line for the Packers next season, and Sunday was encouraging in terms of the young depth players who may have to step up in 2026. Bright start for Trevon Diggs Diggs started on Sunday just days after being claimed on waivers from the Cowboys and had a good afternoon, only being targeted once and not allowing a catch in his Packers debut. The cornerback allowed a passer rating of just 39.6 on the day, had a PFF coverage grade of 82.3, and was solid in run defense, making two tackles. If Diggs can return to the level of play he showed in Dallas in years gone by, it could be a big boost for Green Bay’s defense in the playoffs. Promise from young pass rushers With Micah Parsons out for the year, and the rest of the Packers’ starting rotation of Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare, Sunday brought an opportunity for some younger defensive ends to perform, and there were certainly some bright spots. Brenton Cox Jr led the team in pressures with four, had a sack and forced a fumble, while Barryn Sorrell was active against both the run and the pass and recovered said fumble for Green Bay. Rookie Collin Oliver finally made his NFL debut and had a pair of QB hits. The Packers like to rotate their edge rushers throughout the game, and a few of the younger players made a case to be worked into the mix moving forward. A chance for revenge looms Everything seemed to go off a cliff for the Packers since they beat the Bears at Lambeau Field, as they have lost every game since and also lost their best defensive player. But regardless of who won the NFC North, Green Bay and Chicago were always likely to meet a third time, it was just a matter of whose stadium the contest would take place in. Of course, the Packers would prefer to be hosting next week instead of going on the road, but they will have the opportunity to put right everything that has gone wrong in the last month with a win. Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersMark Oldacres   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsTags: Packers VikingsPackers newsTrevon DiggsJordan MorganBarryn Sorrell Like 0 points

Ever since the 2021 season, the NFL has expanded to eighteen weeks of regular season play. Part of the sell for that was the elimination of four weeks of preseason football, shortening that schedule to only three.  The Packers found a way to play a fourth preseason game anyway.  In a thirteen point loss, the Packers played the least amount of starters that they could mathematically get away with playing. Taking a look at their inactive list is a pretty good indication of where the Packers' mindset was in this game. QB Malik Willis, LBs Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper, OT Zach Tom, S Xavier McKinney, RB Josh Jacobs and WR Dontayvion Wicks. Basically a who's who of the players you need to play a serious football game. While Jordan Love was technically active, I think if they had been forced to have him see the field, we would have just seen handoffs until the end of the game.  The Vikings choose not to engage in the weirdness, and played their starters. It's a pretty simple calculus to figure out where the game went from there. While the makeshift defense actually preformed decently well against Minnesota's starters, what happened on offense could best be described as "HIndenberg-like".  Game Balls  The Rookie Showcase The Packers used this game as an opportunity to get a look at some of their young defensive talent, and many of them used the opportunity to their full advantage.  * Barryn Sorrell led the way with a 1 sack, 1 TFL and 1 fumble recovery night. He looked great playing the most snaps out of the edge group, and there are those consistent flashes that you love to see from a developing rookie. Tonight may have made the front office feel better about a potential Rashan Gary release in March.  * Collin Oliver made his debut, and also had his moments, including a chasedown pressure of JJ McCarthy that got the defense off the field on third down. Remember that while Oliver played a full compliment of snaps tonight, his long term outlook for the team is as a designated pass rusher.  * Jamon Dumas-Johnson looked at his best while helping out in run support, but I thought he didn't look totally lost out there. He'll get a fair shake at making the roster next offseason.  * Jaylin Simpson did not have a great game, but when a UDFA is spending the night lined up against Justin Jefferson, what can you really say?  Trevon Diggs The biggest development of the last week was the Packers claiming former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. The connection between Diggs and the Packers was ideal for both sides. Diggs gets a fresh beginning with the possibility to start, and the Packers are in desperate need for bodies there.  He played about 30 snaps in this one, and had a fine game, which is about the best you could hope for in the limited time he's been with the team.  According to MLF, there's a pretty good chance that Diggs may start next week, which feels like the right call to me. A cornerback trio of Nixon-Diggs-Bullard is by no means a world beating unit, but beggars can't be choosers, right?  Daniel Whelan Our lone, bright shining light on special team, the Irish Cannon himself. Whelan set an unfortunate record last night, of the most punting yards in a game for the 2025 season. 431 yards over eight punts for a 54 yard average. He more than made up for not having to punt at all over the last couple of games, and I hope he earned himself some all pro consideration along the way.  Having a great punter is an underrated aspect of a playoff team, and when you have one like Whelan it's a weapon. It's just a weapon that you hope to have to use as little as possible.  Lame Calls Clayton Tune I'm not trying to be harsh on the guy for his performance today, but Tune was bad. Like, bad.  It's a bit disappointing for a player who has been on the practice squad all season, and (one would assume) knows the offense well because of it. The rest of the offense did him no favors, but I'm afraid that Tune was basically unplayable in this game. It's unfortunate for Tune himself as well, who I'm sure was hoping to get the inside track on the QB2 job next year.  The Offensive Line We've seen a lot of bad performances from the offensive line this season. We've even seen one or two really bad performances this season (Cleveland?). They've consistently underperformed expectations, and have contributed to the offense looking stale all year long.  That being said, this was probably the worst game from a Packers offensive line that I've ever seen. Is that too harsh? Maybe, considering the line was made up of mostly backups last night, going up against a Brian Flores led defense already known for a crushing pass rush. Even still, that's a game that will hopefully see it's game tape tossed into the garbage can, and then the garbage can lit on fire.  The Offensive Line Again And then the ashes of the garbage can dumped into the ocean.  Three and Out -- Today's Phrase of the Game: "Oh Well". It was a meaningless game, in a season that has consistently underperformed the expectations of Packers fans everywhere. The regular season ends with a whimper, as the Packers end up on the wrong end of what felt very similar to our own first matchup with the Vikings. An anemic offense unable to get anything going, and the game felt out of reach by the time the Vikings had ten points.  Still, there was nothing to be gained or lost yesterday but pride. The Packers were always going to have to figure out how to right the ship in the playoffs themselves.  -- In a game where objectives 1,2, and 3 were "stay healthy" the Packers certainly didn't escape unscathed. Bo Melton and Javon Bullard left the game with injuries, adding to depth issues at wide receiver and cornerback. According too Matt LaFleur in his post game press conference and Javon Bullard himself, it seems like he'll be good to go for the playoff game next week. Bo Melton's status seems a little more up in the air, and we'll have to monitor that closely over the next week.  -- The opponent is set. For only the third time in NFL history, the Bears and the Packers will meet in the playoffs. It'll be in Chicago again, and I for one have every bit of confidence in the world. We beat the Bears once already, and then Chicago needed twenty things to go wrong to beat Green Bay in overtime. The Bears enter the playoffs on a losing streak themselves, having lost to the Vikings and Lions in back to back weeks. There's no time like the present (well, Saturday night to be exact) to remind Bears fans that we've got the better team, and the better quarterback too.    Filed Under: FeaturedKalani JonesGame Balls and Lame Calls PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Co-Owner of the thirteen time world champion Green Bay Packers. Sometimes I write about them. Follow me on Twitter at https://x.com/kjones_in_co and on Substack for film breakdowns! __________________________   NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsTags: Green Bay PackersNFC NorthPlayoff FootballJordan LoveMatt LaFleur Like 0 points

  The Packers placed CB Kamel Hadden, CB Nate Hobbs, S Zayne Anderson, OL Donovan Jennings, WR Savion Williams, and DL Jordan Riley on the injured reserve.  The Packers released Quinton Bohanna. That opened up 7 roster spots on the 53-man roster.  The Packers claimed CB Trevon Diggs and DL Jonathan Ford off of waivers.  They signed WR Jakobie Keeney-James, OC Lecitus Smith, QB Clayton Tune, S Jonathan Baldwin, CB/S Jaylin Simpson, and CB Shemar Bartholomew from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, thereby opening 6 spots on the practice squad.   The Packers elevated TE Drake Dabney and LB Jamon Johnson from the practice squad to the game-day active list.  They signed S Mark Perry and Damien Martinez to the practice squad after placing TE McCallan Castles on the practice squad's injured reserve. The Packers signed OG Karsen Barnhart, CB Tyron Herring, and QB Desmond Ridder to the practice squad.  The Packers have 2 open roster spots on the practice squad.  There are no openings on the 53-man roster. The injured inactive players were Dontayvion Wicks, RB Josh Jacobs, RT Zach Tom, and QB Malik Willis.  The healthy scratches were Edge Rashan Gary, S McKinney, and LB Quay Walker.   OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Player Snaps % STs Belton 51 100 1/4% Morgan 51 100 1/4% Smith 51 87   Monk 51 87 1/4% Kinnard 51 87 4/16% Walker     1/4% Banks     1/4% Rhyan     1/4%   The run blocking was not very good.  Running up the middle produced rather poor results.  I checked the play by play and found just two runs up the middle for 4 yards or more.  Both gained 4 yards, and one of them came on 2nd and 28.  There were far too many negative runs.  I am surprised that Minnesota only had 8 tackles for loss.  It became apparent early that LaFleur was trying to kill the clock from the opening gun.  Tune only passed 11 times, and then usually because he had to pass.  Again, checking reveals passes on 3rd and 24, 3rd and 10, 3rd and 9, 3rd and 5, and 1st and 10, in the first half.  That put Tune in a poor situation and it put the offensive line in a bind, as well.  The Packers' running backs gained 105 yards on 31 carries.  If one does not count Wilson's mad scramble for negative 18, they gained 4.10 yards per carry. The pass blocking was not good, either.  The Packers allowed 4 sacks and 5 QB hits on 11 passing attempt and 13 drop backs.  The good news is I did not think any of the lineman got physically whipped at the line or just was not quick enough.  Minnesota just dialed up a blitz or even an unusual defense and the line did not know what to do.  Pro Football Focus listed Minnesota with only 2 unblocked pass rushing snaps, but that seems low.  PFF also listed only one offensive lineman with giving up a pressure, and that was Darian Kinnard for 1 hurry.  One seems a bit low but it accords with my take that most of the Vikings' pressure came from favorable schemes.   PFF liked Belton (71.0 initial grade) and Jacob Monk (70.5).  I did notice that Monk is quick off the snap.  Did this game make you want to pay Sean Rhyan something like $8M AAV to be the center next year?  Do you want to pay Rasheed Walker $20M AAV?  Can they?   RUNNING BACKS:   Player Snaps % STs Wilson 28 55 4/17% Brooks 23 45 8/35% Chris Brooks gained 61 yards on 13 carries (4.69 yard average) with a long of 12.  Brooks allowed a hurry.  Wilson gained 44 yards on 18 carries, a 2.44-yard average, with a long of 12.  If one removed the negative 18-yard run, his average improves to 3.65, which still is not good.  Wilson is a big back who probably should have just fallen on the ball rather than trying to emulate Barry Sanders.  PFF indicates that Wilson allowed a sack.   QUARTERBACKS: Player Snaps % STs Tune 51 100     Clayton Tune completed 6 of 11 (54.5%) passes for 34 yards (3.09 yards per attempt).  He was sacked 4 times for 41 yards. His job was not to throw any interceptions or fumble the ball.  Anything more would be gravy.  Well, there was no gravy, and he did fumble, though it was recovered by the guy who allowed the free rusher to squash Tune. None of Tune's passes traveled more than 8 yards downfield in the air. LaFleur presented Tune with a Herculean task and it turns out Tune is fully mortal.  The Packers had a -0.79 EPA per pass play, which lands in the zero percentile.  They had negative 7 net passing yards.  I don't take too much from his performance other than than that no one (neither Monk or Tune) could set the protections pre-snap and he did not read the field well in the time he had to scan it. I imagine the Packers will add a quarterback to their roster either via the draft or in free agency.   TIGHT ENDS: Player Snaps % STs Dabney 45 88 9/39% Whyle 37 73 13/57% Musgrave 2 4     Whyle caught 1 pass for 4 yards and Drake Dabney caught 1 of 2 for 3 yards.  PFF assigned the sack to Dabney but I don't think tight ends not named Kittle or Marcedes Lewis should be blocking Dallas Turner one on one unless it is a quick throw.  It did not look like it had occurred to Dabney to block Turner until it was far too late.  Dabney alertly fell on the fumble.       WIDE RECEIVERS: Player Snaps % STs Golden 51 100   Keeny-James 48 94 9/39% Melton 13 25 9/39% Reed 8 16   Golden played every snap and caught 1 of 3 targets for 8 yards.  He dropped 2 passes.  Maybe I jinxed him after writing that Golden should have been on the hands team for the onside kick.  Keeny-James caught both of his targets for 15 yards.  Melton did not have any receptions and was only targeted once.  Melton left the game but reports are that he will be fine.  That forced Reed to play.  He got no targets - maybe by design.  Other than writing that receivers have to catch passes that hit their hands, I don't think the game plan leaves a lot of avenues for discussion.   DEFENSIVE TACKLES:   Player Snaps % STs Brinson 47 70 4/17% Stackhouse 45 67 4/17% Ford 30 45   Wooden 5 7   Brooks     1/4% The defensive line looked much stouter than expected, and they did that while playing 1.89 defensive tackles per play on average.  I note that the Vikings offensive line is not great.  They played Justin Skule ($2M/year) at left tackle and Michael Jurgens ( a 7th round pick in the 2024 draft with 242 snaps, all this season) at center.  Skule is having a decent year.  Jurgens is probably the fish, the below average player.  They played Will Fries at right guard: Fries and Aaron Banks are the free agent offensive guard I looked at last offseason but decided they both wanted too much money.  Fries got $17.5M and he has been as average as average can be.  He has been healthy.  Their right tackle, Brian O'Neill, is good and he played. The Vikings gained 137 yards on 31 carries, a 4.42-yard average.  Minnesota finished at -0.10 EPA per rush.  The Packers were at -0.12 EPA.  The line got some push at times.   Jonathan Ford had 2 solo tackles.  Stackhouse had 2 assisted tackles and Brinson had 1 QB hit and one offsides penalty. PFF listed Ford with a run stop and Stackhouse with 2 missed tackles and a run stop.       DEFENSIVE ENDS: Player Snaps % STs Sorrell 52 78 9/39% Cox 44 66 9/39% Oliver 31 46 10/43% Mosby 15 22 18/78% Enagbare     8/35%   Sorrell had 8 tackles (5 solo), 1 tackle for loss and 1 sack.  He had 3 pressures (2 hurries and a sack) in 25 pass rushing snaps, a decent 12% pressure rate.  PFF credited him with 4stops but dinged him for a missed tackle.  He allowed 1 reception on 1 target to be completed for 6 yards, a 91 passer rating.  Cox had 2 tackles (1 solo), 3 QB hits, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and a tackle for loss.   PFF listed him with no run stops and 1 missed tackle.  Cox did have 6 pressures (3 hurries, 2 QB hits, 1 sack) on 26 pass rushing snaps, good for an excellent 23.1% pressure rate. Oliver had 1 solo tackle, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 QB hits.  PFF credited Oliver with 2 pressures (both QB hits) on 17 pass rushing snaps, an 11.8% pressure rate, about the same as Sorrell's pressure rate.  Oliver had a missed tackle.  Oliver dropped into coverage but was not targeted.  Mosby had no conventional statistics.  PFF credited him with 2 hurries on 6 pass rushing chances, a 33% pressure rate. This was an encouraging performance.  The Packers won't pass up an Edge prospect in the draft if he is good, but they might look elsewhere.     LINEBACKERS: Players Snaps % STs Hopper 67 100 18/78% Johnson 67 100 14/61% McDuffie 26 39 12/52%   Johnson had 10 tackles (3 solo) with a pass defensed.  He had 1 stop.  He allowed 6 of 8 passes for 86 yards (109 passer rating).  Hopper had 5 tackles (1 solo).  He had 2 stops and a missed tackle.  He allowed 1 of 2 passes to be completed for 18 yards (81 passer rating).  More importantly, he played the mike position in the absence of Quay Walker.  Hopper looked pretty good in his audition to the Mike backer in 2026. Since Quay Walker will be a free agent, the Packers have a decision: pay Quay $12M to $15M or so per year, draft a replacement, or hope for internal development.  McDuffie had 5 tackles (4 solo).  PFF listed him with 3 stops including a tackle for loss/no gain.  He allowed 1 reception on 1 target to be completed for 12 yards (112 passer rating).  PFF gave McDuffie an initial grade of 78.4. The Packers only had 3 linebackers active.  I wonder if Oliver or Sorrell might have taken a handful of snaps at off the ball linebacker had there been an injury.     DEFENSIVE BACKS: Player Snaps % STs Olapado 66 99 22/96% Baldwin 66 99 14/61% Simpson 62 93 9/39% Bartholomew 34 51 11/48% Diggs 33 49 2/9% Williams 21 31 8/35% Bullard 21 31   Nixon 5 7   Valentine     1/4%   Jaylin Simpson had 8 tackles (5 solo).  He allowed 4 of 7 targets to be completed for 52 yards, an 80.7 passer rating.  Jonathan Baldwin had 7 tackles (4 solo).  He allowed both of his targets to be completed for 27 yards (118 passer rating).  PFF credited him with a run stop and a tackle for loss/no gain.  Olopado had 5 tackles (4 solo) with 1 pass defensed.  He had a run stop per PFF and a missed tackle.  He allowed 4 of 4 passes to be completed for 33 yards, a 101 passer rating.  Bullard had 3 tackles (1 solo).  He was not targeted.  Evan Williams had 3 assisted tackles.  He no pressures but only 1 pass rush snap.  He was not targeted.   Justin Jefferson is the only Viking who hurt the Packers (8/11 for 101 yards).  Jordan Addison (610 yards) needs a change of scenery.  I imagine the Vikings will pick up his 5th year option for $17.5M .   SPECIAL TEAMS: Whelan punted 8 times for 431 yards with a net average of 53.  He placed 5 inside the 20 and had 1 touchback.  He flipped the field at times.  McManus made a short field goal at the end of the game.  LaFleur did not want any issues and put the number one field goal unit on the field.  That is why Rasheed Walker, Banks and Rhyan each have 1 snap.      All statistics nflgsis or pro football focus. Photo courtesy of Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA Today Network.   OL: 5.00 RB: 1.00 TE: 1.65 (why such a high number given who is available?) WR: 2.35 DT: 1.90 DE: 2.12 LB: 2.39 DB: 4.60         Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersJames Reynolds   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsTags: Packers Snap CountsGreen Bay PackersMinnesota Vikings Like 0 points

On today's show, Jacob, Andy and Grant discuss the Packers' upcoming revenge game with the Chicago Bears, key takeaways from Packers/Vikings, and how to place the 2025 season is perspective so far. Don't miss it!!!     Filed Under: FeaturedPack A Day Podcast   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL! __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Pack-A-Day PodcastPackers podcastPacker PodcastGreen Bay Packers podcastgreen bay packer Like 0 points

The Packers will head to Chicago for the NFC Wild Card playoff against the Chicago Bears. The postseason game at Soldier Field will kick off Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. ct. The game will be broadcast via Amazon's Prime Video. The Packers and Bears have met twice in the postseason with each franchise winning one of the contests. The Bears victory came in 1941 while the Packers won the 2010 NFC Championship. Filed Under: Featured   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Tags: Green Bay PackersNFL playoffs Like 0 points

Filed Under: Aaron NaglerPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Tags: Green Bay PackersCheesehead TV Good Bad and Ugly Like 0 points

The Green Bay Packers ended their 2025 regular season with a gameday roster that resembled one from August instead of January. With the team locked into the final spot in the NFC playoffs next weekend, only three starters saw regular action in the season finale at the Minnesota Vikings which resulted in a 16-3 defeat.  “Well, there was some good out there and not-so-good,” coach Matt LaFleur said via packers.com. “I thought defensively our guys played physical and they played for four quarters. Obviously, we couldn’t get enough going offensively and that was disappointing. We really struggled, especially in the first half, with blocking, movement, and getting anything going. In the second half, we did a better job and were able to run the ball a little bit.”  The Packers will travel to Chicago or Philadelphia next weekend for a Wild Card matchup.  Despite almost all regular starters being benched, the injury bug still managed to bite Javon Bullard. He injured his knee in the fourth quarter on a tackle and did not return, though LaFleur did say he thought Bullard would be ok.  A knee injury also ended Bo Melton’s day. The do-it-all player injured his knee as a gunner making a tackle on punt coverage; the severity is not known.  “We were limited on bodies in regards to when we were going nickel defense,” LaFleur said about Bullard playing in the fourth quarter.  Bullard was one of three starters to see regular action throughout the game along with Evan Willams and Anthony Belton. Jayden Reed, Keisean Nixon, and Isiah McDuffie saw playing time as well.  Last season in a mostly-meaningless week 18 game versus Chicago, Jordan Love was banged up and Christian Watson tore his ACL. LaFleur acknowledged that the game impacted his decision to rest as many starters as possible Sunday.  “I think we did the right thing today,” he said. “I feel better about this than I did a year ago after the game.”  Minnesota played its healthy starters, so Green Bay’s second and third-string players had ample opportunity to leave a mark against top NFL competition. None did so more than rookie defensive end Barryn Sorrell.  The former Texas Longhorn registered a sack, eight tackles, a tackle-for-loss, a quarterback hit, and some quarterback pressures for good measure. Sorrell also recovered a fumble on a play made for the blooper reel.  Vikings backup quarterback Max Brosmer had replaced an injured J.J. McCarthy and drove the offense inside the Packer 10-yard line early in the fourth quarter. While in the pocket on a first-and-goal pass attempt, Brosmer tripped over his left tackle. The rookie quarterback then stood up somewhat nonchalantly as if the play were over. Brenton Cox Jr. smacked him for the sack and fumble which Sorrell recovered.  Brosmer, from his back, grabbed Sorrell’s ankle to trip him and prevent a run back. That may have been Green Bay’s best chance at a touchdown as its backups were overwhelmed by the Viking starting defense.  With Malik Willis ruled out due to a shoulder injury, third-string quarterback Clayton Tune was thrust into his second-career start. The deck was certainly stacked against him – his offense consisted of the second-string offensive line and receivers. Against the NFL’s most aggressive defensive coordinator in Brian Flores on the road, Tune finished six-of-11 passing for 34 yards. He also took four sacks for 41 yards giving the team a net -7 yards passing.  Green Bay’s lone scoring drive ended the game when Brandon McManus hit a chip-shot field goal as time expired to elude the shutout. Chris Brooks and Emmanuel Wilson each toted the rock on the drive to get the Packers into the low red zone. Brooks finished with 61 yards on 13 carries. Wilson had 44 yards on 18 carries, but lost 18 yards on one second-quarter run when he tried to reverse the field twice.  Jordan Morgan played the entire game at left tackle, his expected position next season. He allowed a sack after Dallas Turner perfectly jumped the snap to rush around Morgan. However, Tune will likely earn the film-room criticism for the play since he didn’t hand the ball off or quickly throw it on a run-pass option.  The Packers finish the season at 9-7-1, on a disappointing four-game losing streak marred by injuries. They went 4-2 in divisional games after going 1-5 last year.  Other Notes: * Newly-acquired cornerback Trevon Diggs saw playing time as well, and made two good open-field tackles.  * Daniel Whelan punted the ball eight times for a whopping 431 yards. He had one touchdown and five pinned inside the 20.  Filed Under: Packers NewsFeaturedJocelyn Hopkinson PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Jocelyn Hopkinson is a contributor for CheeseheadTV and can be found on Twitter at Jh0p_4 __________________________   NFL Categories: Minnesota VikingsTags: Barryn Sorrell Like 0 points

Filed Under: FeaturedAaron NaglerPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Minnesota VikingsTags: Green Bay PackersAaron Nagler's Gut Reactions Like 0 points

Filed Under: FeaturedPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Minnesota VikingsTags: Green Bay PackersCheesehead TV watch party Like 0 points

We've made it to week 18 of the 2025-26 NFL season, and today's going to be a weird one with your Green Bay Packers taking on the Minnesota Vikings from US Bank Stadium in Minnesota at 12 PM CST. The 9-6-1 Packers are coming off an embarrassing 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at home, where it seemed like they were coming off a Christmas hangover or something and let Derrick Henry run all over them. The 8-8 Vikings are coming off a 23-10 victory over the Detroit Lions that actually stamped the Packers' ticket to the playoffs. The Packers are resting a few players as they have nothing to gain from today's game, while the Vikings are simply playing for pride at this point in their final game of the season.  The last time these two teams met was just before Thanksgiving at Lambeau Field on November 23rd, when the Packers emerged victorious with a 23-6 drubbing of the Vikings. Jordan Love went 14/21 for 139 yards through the air, but the star of the game for the Packers' offense was Emanuel Wilson, who ran the ball 28 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers' defense took care of business as well, sacking Vikings' QB JJ McCarthy five times and intercepting him twice. Both teams are expected to look different today in the finale, but the Packers will be hoping for a similar result.  Last week was a game the Packers would like to forget. They let Derrick Henry run all over them 36 times for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Malik Willis put up a fight on offense, running nine times for 60 yards and two touchdowns as well as throwing for 288 yards and a touchdown, but that wasn't enough as the Packers' defense simply got bullied by Henry in embarrassing fashion. A team that had been doing pretty well against premier running backs up until last week, just had no answers for the ageless wonder, Henry. To make matters worse, the Packers lost Jordan Riley, Kamal Hadden, and Nate Hobbs for the rest of the season, adding to their ever-growing IR list.  Today is going to be a weird one with so many players not on the field, but we'll see how the Packers plan to get things done.  What to See on Offense With so many uncertainties about who will be playing for each team today, especially the Packers, "what to expect" will be a lot different this week, focusing on which players may be featured if preferred starters aren't active.  Jordan Love has cleared concussion protocol, but he will not be playing today. Instead, Clayton Tune will be starting for the Packers at quarterback. Tune entered last week's game when Malik Willis re-aggravated his shoulder injury and went 1/4 for 8 yards and one interception. The interception was more tough luck than anything as Tune's pass hit Bo Melton in the hands and was tipped right to a defender. Tune is around what you'd expect for a practice squad QB, raw talent that the Packers are looking to shape into a serviceable backup QB.  At receiver, it's going to be a tough call for who Clayton Tune will have to throw to. With Jordan Love and Malik Willis not starting, I don't see a lot of benefit to walking top receivers like Watson, Doubs, and Reed out there often and risking injury. However, Savion Williams was just placed on injured reserve, and Dontayvion Wicks is Doubtful with a concussion. The Packers elevated Jakobie Keeney-James from the practice squad to the active roster yesterday, but that would leave only Matthew Golden outside of Keeney-James and possibly Bo Melton if Watson, Reed, and Doubs sit. So there is a good chance one or more of those receivers will be active. Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich emphasized that we shouldn't expect an increase in Matthew Golden's role this season, but in today's game, I wouldn't be surprised if he sees more snaps, given the nature of the matchup.  The last time these two teams met, Jordan Love was only sacked once as the Packers picked up blitzes from Minnesota's defense pretty easily. There may be some backup linemen on the field today, so we will see how that goes in a game that Minnesota will likely want to give their fans some kind of positivity to end the season on.  Last week against Detroit, the Vikings sacked Jared Goff five times and intercepted him twice. We'll see if they decide to make Clayton Tune's life miserable in the pocket today or if they dare him to throw the ball.  On the ground, I'm expecting to see a lot of Emanuel Wilson. Josh Jacobs could benefit from a week off despite his desire to keep pushing, and today is the perfect day. The Vikings, however, may not like seeing Wilson as he ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns in their first meeting this season. But with a third-string QB behind center, Minnesota will likely focus on stopping the run. Outside of Wilson, we'll perhaps see Chris Brooks take a few handoffs. We did not end up seeing Pierre Strong Jr. or the newly acquired Damien Martinez elevated from the practice squad. This was an interesting decision if Jacobs isn't going to go today, but we'll have to see how LaFleur elects to rotate his backs. What to See on Defense Like my offensive portion, this section will primarily focus on players who may see increased roles today, given the uncertainty of the lineup.  Starting at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings today will be JJ McCarthy. McCarthy hasn't played in a few games and has had his injury woes this season, so deciding to start him today is a bit odd, but it seems as though Minnesota is hoping to put together some momentum into the offseason.  Minnesota's offensive line has not kept the quarterback clean these last few weeks, so the Packers will be hoping to put up those sack totals today and limit McCarthy's production, but they will likely be without most top defensive players. We are expecting to see the debut of Collin Oliver, however, the rookie pass rusher who many fans are already calling "Micah Parsons 2.0." Despite any action at all seen from him this season, due to injury. Maybe we'll be surprised by him, along with some increased snaps for fellow rookie Barryn Sorrell, who has put together several winning reps against offensive linemen this season in his minimal chances.  The Packers' secondary has been decimated by injury, leading to the addition of CB Trevon Diggs off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. Diggs has been injured most of the season, and when he has been active, he's just been flat-out beaten by receivers. There is a chance he plays today, but I would not expect a ton of production or snaps from Diggs. Bo Melton has mainly taken snaps at receiver this season after trying to transition to corner in training camp. However, he was seen taking reps with the defense in practice this week, so we may see the regular-season debut of Bo Melton, the corner.  Whoever is starting at corner for the Packers today may be facing Minnesota's full complement of receivers. With Justin Jefferson 53 receiving yards away from the century mark, there's been a lot of chatter amongst the Vikings-faithful about McCarthy needing to get Jefferson over 1K yards to end the season. Along with Jefferson are Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor, who are also decent threats and will test whoever Green Bay puts in their path. Tight end TJ Hockenson is OUT today for the Vikings, so that gives the Packers' secondary one less pass-catching threat to deal with.  Against the run, the Vikings, of course, have former Packer, Aaron Jones, alongside Jordan Mason. Jones did not practice this week and is out today, so I would expect to see a lot of Jordan Mason in the running game for Minnesota. Mason has had a good 2025 season, running for 664 yards and six touchdowns, and will likely be looking to finish the season on a high note in an effort to become the feature back for the Vikings if Aaron Jones does not return next season.  The Packers have a familiar face returning on the defensive line in Jonathan Ford. With the injury to Jordan Riley last week, Ford will have a huge opportunity in his second stint with the Packers. We'll see how much Ford plays today, but I would expect his role to increase dramatically as the Packers need a run-stopper in the middle.  Extra Notes If there's one area not expected to change a lot today for the Packers, it's special teams. I don't know if that's good or bad, honestly, but let's not get into that gripe now.  Brandon McManus has been picture-perfect for the last six games, Vikings kicker Will Reichard has also been perfect, so no excitement there.  Punting, personally, I feel Daniel Whelan was robbed of a Pro Bowl election, considering he has the second-best punt average in the league, but we all know the Pro Bowl has become meaningless, and it's All-Pro elections that count, but we'll see on that front. Vikings punter Ryan Wright ranks eighth in the league in punt average.  Kick/Punt returns haven't been too exciting for either squad this season, with Myles Price handling the majority of duties for the Vikings, and we'll have to see who handles returns today for the Packers. Last week, it was Bo Melton and Nate Hobbs taking the majority of kick returns. With Hobbs now on IR and Melton seeing an increased role on defense, possibly, that could change.  In the End It's the final game of the regular season, against a hated division rival in the Minnesota Vikings. But this game honestly just feels like an exhibition matchup. The Packers are running a third-string QB onto the field and a smattering of other backups, given that their playoff ticket is already punched, and the Vikings have nothing to play for either. You want your team to win, but if they lose, what does it really matter? It's just a weird game against a team that we'd normally have a lot of emotion playing against, but today, it's just not the same. Nonetheless, we want our Packers to win. But more importantly, let's get out of this game healthy and ready for the playoffs. Go Pack Go.    Filed Under: FeaturedGreen Bay PackersGreg MeinholzPreview and PredictionGameDay PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to CheeseheadTV as well as PackersTalk. Follow him on Twitter @gmeinholz and Bluesky @gmeinholz.bsky.social for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsNFCNFC NorthTags: Green Bay PackersClayton TuneMatt LaFleurMax BrosmerCollin Oliver Like 0 points

Join Andy Herman for his Packers/Vikings pregame show, focusing on which young players to keep an extra eye on during this exhibition-like regular season finale. Don't miss it!!!     Filed Under: FeaturedPack A Day Podcast   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL! __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Pack-A-Day PodcastPackers podcastPacker PodcastGreen Bay Packers podcastgreen bay packer Like 0 points

Filed Under: Packers Draft Central   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Newt Westen is the Founder of 0-Tech Draft and Lead NFL Draft Analyst for CheeseheadTV.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan and you can follow Newt at @NFLDraft_Westen on X. __________________________ Tags: Green Bay Packers2026 NFL Draft Like 0 points

The Green Bay Packers have announced that they will be resting several veterans in their regular season finale in Minnesota against the Vikings. The game has no impact on the Packers playoff seeding or playoff opponent. After Christian Watson tore his ACL in a meaningless regular season finale a year ago, Matt LaFleur is taking no chances and wants to minimize the risk of injury to key players. That means younger backups will get a rare chance to see extended action and show the coaching staff what they can do. One of those players will likely be second-year linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper. Starters Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper are strong candidates to sit out this game. Hopper has been an enigma since joining the Packers. GM Brian Gutekunst selected the former Missouri star in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Since then, Hopper has never missed a game, but he has yet to carve out any significant role on defense. As a rookie, Hopper played 18 total snaps on defense while seeing extensive action on special teams. This season, he finally made his first career start when injuries struck the linebacking corps. But he has still been on the field for 59 defensive snaps through the first 16 games or just six percent of the team’s defensive snaps. He’s made 19 total tackles including one tackle for loss. While a bit undersized for an off-ball linebacker at 6’2” and 228 pounds, Hopper possesses good speed and athleticism. He has a reputation of being a physical player who likes to hit. Thus far, Hopper has been behind the top three linebackers on the depth chart, Walker, Cooper, and Isaiah McDuffie. Walker has the most experience of the group and has great speed. Cooper gives the team a playmaker at linebacker and also has the speed scouts love. He has created fewer big plays this season after the arrival of Micah Parsons which caused the team to change their defensive approach. McDuffie gives the Packers an experienced and intelligent run stopper who knows Jeff Hafley’s system well. He also provides the team with leadership. Hopper has a real chance to show the coaching staff what he’s capable of this Sunday. Certainly, fans feel the team cannot do a worse job of defending the run than they did last week against the Baltimore Ravens. In that game, the defenders took poor angles to the ball, used poor technique, and didn’t tackle well as Derrick Henry gained more than 200 yards and ran for four touchdowns. There may be even more incentive for Hopper, however. Walker is in the final year of his entry-level contract. The Packers declined his fifth-year option last offseason in part because the formulation for linebackers salaries included edge rushers. That drove up the average cost of the one-year deal to a price that the team was not comfortable playing Walker. Gutekunst initially indicated he wanted to sign Walker to a second contract, but that hasn’t happened yet. Now, the circumstances have changed. The Packers have the Parsons contract on the books and don’t have a first round pick in either 2026 or 2027. They also have glaring needs at cornerback and defensive tackle. With the limited cap space the team has, they are unlikely to be able to afford to pay an expensive free agent at either position. Without a first round pick, they also can’t add the highest regarded rookies at those positions. If Hopper can demonstrate to the coaching staff that he’s ready to take over as the starter next season, that could make Walker expendable. He will likely earn somewhere between $10-12 million as a free agent if he hits the open market this offseason. Hopper’s 2026 cap hit will be a little more than $1.548 million. So, while the outcome of this particular game in Minnesota won’t impact the Packers playoff seeding, the performance of players like Ty’Ron Hopper could have a direct affect on the team’s future roster and who starts at linebacker in 2026 and beyond. For Hopper, this is a big opportunity. We’ll see if he can take advantage of it. Filed Under: FeaturedGil Martin   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay PackersTy'Ron HopperQuay WalkerEdgerrin CooperIsaiah McDuffieBrian Gutekunst Like 0 points

Jordan Love cleared concussion protocol.  That’s good news right? That means that he will play in the regular season finale at Minnesota on Sunday. Right? Wrong.  Love will be a healthy scratch because the Packers are locked into the vaunted No. 7 playoff seed in the NFC. (It’s the last seed in case you’re wondering.) And the Packers don’t want Love to get hurt leading up to the playoffs.  I would understand this if Love had played last week, but he missed the Week 17 game vs. Baltimore because he never cleared concussion protocol. Backup Malik Willis played very well with an injured throwing shoulder, but you would like Love to get into a bit of a rhythm again.  Now it’s inevitable that when the Packers go out to play either the Bears or Eagles in the playoffs, Love will be showing signs of rust. His feathery touch will likely be off and his deep ball won’t be the same.  This is the age old argument of the preseason: To play or not to play. That’s essentially what this is. The Vikings’ season is over and has been done for some time. And the Packers have circled the drain since Micah Parsons tore his ACL in Denver on Dec. 14.  The defense is clearly at a disadvantage as witnessed by the tire tracks that Ravens running back Derrick Henry left all over the Packers defense. Which is why the offense needs to pick up the slack.  Usually the playoffs are about running the football, owning the clock and playing solid defense. That’s not what the Packers should be focused on for these playoffs. They should be focused on scoring as many points as possible. The Packers should give the no-huddle a whirl because it’s one of the best ways to keep defenses off balance.  I do think the Packers can be a tricky out in the playoffs. They could win a couple games and be on the cusp of winning the NFC — but they need a quarterback that is hot and is in the right head space. It’s hard for a quarterback to get hot when he hasn’t played in two weeks. Even if it was for just a half, have Love go out there and get some confidence again. Now the Packers will muddle through with Clayton Tune. Obviously, the receivers don’t have a rapport with the fifth round pick from 2023. And to make matters worse, who the heck is going to back up Tune if he goes down? Maybe the Packers are playing close to the vest with Love’s health. In addition to the concussion, maybe the thumb in his left hand that he tore on Aug. 9 is bothering him. And the Packers are looking at it from a business perspective as well. They have invested $55 million a season  into Love, so they want to see it pay some hefty dividends.  Despite all that, I still think you have to play Love. He’s the guy. He’s supposed to be the focal point of this team. He is the guy that everyone needs to rally around. Now is the time for his teammates to see how much he means to the Packers.  Filed Under: Packers NewsFeaturedGreen Bay Packers   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsTags: Jordan LoveGreen Bay PackersMinnesota VikingsClayton Tune Like 0 points

On today's show, Carmen Vitali & Andy Herman discuss the current state of the Packers, what, if anything there is to take away from Packers/Vikings, and if Matt LaFleur and the Packers can get this season turned around. Don't miss it!     Filed Under: FeaturedPack A Day Podcast   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL! __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Pack-A-Day PodcastPackers podcastPacker PodcastGreen Bay Packers podcastgreen bay packer Like 0 points

For more than 100 years, the Shrine Bowl has served as a launching pad for some of football’s most iconic athletes as well as today’s rising stars. Beyond the field, the event plays a vital role in raising funds for Shriners Children’s, helping provide specialized pediatric care to children facing complex health challenges. Find out more about the Shrine Bowl: https://shrinebowl.com/   Filed Under: NFL DraftNewt Westen   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Newt Westen is the Founder of 0-Tech Draft and Lead NFL Draft Analyst for CheeseheadTV.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan and you can follow Newt at @NFLDraft_Westen on X. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay Packers2026NFL DraftShine BowlpreviewDefense Like 0 points

Listen to the podcast here: Find all of my daily podcasts here. Filed Under: FeaturedAaron Nagler#PackersDailyPacker Fan Podcasts   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Minnesota VikingsTags: Green Bay PackersPackers Daily Like 0 points

Filed Under: NFL DraftNewt Westen   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Newt Westen is the Founder of 0-Tech Draft and Lead NFL Draft Analyst for CheeseheadTV.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan and you can follow Newt at @NFLDraft_Westen on X. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay Packers2026NFL DraftGracen HaltenOklahoma Like 0 points

Filed Under: FeaturedAaron NaglerPacker Fan PodcastsPack's What She Said   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ NFL Categories: Minnesota VikingsTags: Green Bay PackersPack's What She Said Like 0 points

Filed Under: NFL DraftNewt Westen   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ Newt Westen is the Founder of 0-Tech Draft and Lead NFL Draft Analyst for CheeseheadTV.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan and you can follow Newt at @NFLDraft_Westen on X. __________________________ NFL Categories: Green Bay PackersTags: Green Bay Packers2026NFL DraftKayden McDonaldOhio State Like 1 points