How will rainy and windy weather impact the game?
The forecast for Sunday is a high of 54 degrees with 0.28 inches of rain and winds at 10-20mph.
JORDAN LOVE’S GROIN
The main impact of the weather may be on Jordan Love who is expected to play despite a questionable designation. Love’s groin injury is likely a strain of a hip flexor or hip adductor muscle.
If Love’s foot slips on the wet field, it could cause stretching of the injured muscle and an aggravation. Keep a close eye on his feet to see if there is slipping, and on his gait to see if any limping develops.
If Love’s groin worsens over the course of the game, Malik Willis would finish things out. Thus, the Lions need to be prepared to face either QB at a moment’s notice. Given the significant difference in play styles of the two QB’s with Willis much more likely to run, how well the Lions defense adjusts will be critical.
Willis has 16 carries for 137 yards this season while Love only has 10 carries for 28 yards.
RUNNING GAME FOR BOTH TEAMS
If the wind makes it hard to pass, it’s the running game of both teams that may decide first place in the division. The Packers starting center, Josh Myers, who played the entire last game, has a doubtful designation (wrist) which almost certainly means he’s out. On the other side of the ball, the Lions rookie 6th-round defensive tackle, Mekhi Wingo, has been ruled out with a surprise ankle injury suffered during the week.
Wingo has played 29% of defensive snaps this year so it’s no small loss. He’s not the only front-seven player missing from last game as linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez sprained his ankle and is out. Rodriguez has been an important run defender at the LB position having played 67% of snaps so far. Defensive end Josh Paschal will also be missing his 2nd straight game due to an unspecified illness.
The losses of Wingo, Rodriguez, and Paschal are just the latest woes to the Lions front-seven. Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes, John Cominsky, and Kyle Peko have already been lost to injury this year. The Lions have been stout in run defense so far despite these losses, and that effectiveness likely will need to continue in order to win this game.
While the Lions RB’s are healthy, the Packers Josh Jacobs suffered an ankle injury in the last minute of the last game. I reviewed the game footage of his injury which was obscured so can’t say if it’s more likely a high ankle or low ankle sprain – a high ankle being much more concerning.
Jacobs had two limited practices this week and is listed as questionable but is expected to play. The health of his ankle will be a major factor in this game so keep an eye on that early.
This offseason, the Packers signed Jacobs as a free-agent and he has made a dynamic impact with 667 rushing yards at 4.6 yards per carry. If Jacobs can’t go, the Packers second leading rusher this season is Emanuel Wilson who has 226 yards at 4.4 yards per carry.
