It’s stock watch time following the Green Bay Packers’ 23-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.
Here’s who is up and who is down after the season-opening loss at U.S. Bank Stadium:
Stock up
WR Christian Watson: Yeah, he dropped the 75-yard touchdown. He certainly had a mental error or two (or more). But he also displayed elite speed and dangerous ability as a vertical threat, giving him real potential as a difference-maker in 2022. The Packers started him, dialed up a shot play for him on the first snap and eventually played him 40 snaps (second most among receivers).
LB Quay Walker: He had some issues early and eventually left with a minor shoulder injury, but Walker was flying around the field and making plays sideline to sideline. Of his eight tackles, five were considered “stops” by PFF, including three in the passing game. His size and speed will be menacing all year.
Packers RBs: Aaron Jones only got eight touches, but the Packers running back pair still showed why they’ll be the heartbeat of the offense in 2022. Jones turned his eight touches into 76 yards, while A.J. Dillon produced 91 total yards and a score on 15 touches. Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers will get Jones and Dillon more than 23 touches in most games. They are dynamic and versatile.
DL Kenny Clark: The Pro Bowler was a wrecking ball as a pass-rusher, tallying six total pressures and a sack. His pass-rush win percentage was over 20.0, per PFF.
LT Yosh Nijman: He gave up one hurry and had a penalty, but Nijman looked like a capable left tackle in the opener. It’ll be quite the luxury to have three capable starting left tackles once everyone is healthy.
Stock down
QB Aaron Rodgers: The number of mental mistakes around him certainly hurt his individual performance. But the MVP still held the ball and wasn’t decisive, and he turned the ball over twice. The Packers are going to need Rodgers to erase a lot of mistakes on offense early in the year. In Week 1, he was part of the problem.
Packers safeties: Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are in Year 4 as the starting safety tandem, but it’s certainly possible Sunday was the worst game they’ve played together. Amos and Savage were both at least partially responsible for big plays created by Justin Jefferson. The safeties are the brain of the secondary; the number of coverage busts from veterans can’t be happening.
RG Jake Hanson: The Packers talked up Hanson all summer, but he wasn’t up to the task as a starter in the opener. The right guard gave up a sack and several other pressures, and he wasn’t good enough in the run game. The Packers really need David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins back in the lineup.
WR Amari Rodgers: Juwann Winfree, who was elevated from the practice squad, played nine snaps on offense. Rodgers wasn’t on the field for a single snap in the opener, although he did fine as the primary returner. He’s just not going to be a big factor from scrimmage this season.
CB Eric Stokes: He got confused by motion on the opening touchdown and was completely out of position. It was a tough look. He also got beat twice by Justin Jefferson for catches, including a 22-yarder.
Veteran WRs: Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb ran 55 combined routes but produced only 32 total receiving yards. Ouch. Aaron Rodgers trusts the veteran pair, but the Packers need more. A lot more. The rookie receivers were decidedly more productive.
