It’s stock watch time following the Green Bay Packers’ 27-10 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 2 of the 2022 season.
Here’s who is up and who is down after the win in the home opener at Lambeau Field:
Stock up
RB Aaron Jones: He got 18 touches and Matt LaFleur was actually disappointed he didn’t get more. Jones averaged almost 10 yards a touch, created six plays of at least 10 or more yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. The guess here is that Jones won’t ever come close to receiving only eight touches in a game again this season; he’s the focal point of the offense, and for good reason.
WR Sammy Watkins: All three of his catches came on scoring drives. He made easy work of the coverage on a couple of in-breaking routes early, and his 55-yard deep shot late in the game pretty much put away the win.
Pony package: The Packers had Jones and A.J. Dillon on the field together for 10 snaps on Sunday night. Aaron Rodgers always talks about getting the offense’s “best 11” on the field, and Jones and Dillon are undoubtedly in top 11. The Packers think they are just scratching the surface of what this package can become, so expect to see it more and more. The dual running back look provides opportunities to get Jones out wide and in motion. His 8-yard touchdown came off the look; Jones motioned right, and Dillon led the way as a blocker.
OLB Preston Smith: He created two sacks, three quarterback hits and six total pressures, which are impressive numbers considering the Bears only dropped back to pass 17 total times. He also add five total stops, a team-high, per PFF. The veteran edge rusher can still get it done at a high level.
Backup safeties on special teams: Dallin Leavitt made a pair of tackles covering kicks, including a takedown of the returner at the 15-yard line. Rudy Ford forced a fair catch as a gunner on punt coverage at the 10-yard line.
LB Quay Walker: His speed was big for slowing down Justin Fields’ outside the pocket, and he nearly had an interception in coverage late in the game. The rookie is still finding his way as an every-down run defender at the NFL level, but his athleticism and movement ability have jumped off the screen in each of the first two weeks.
TE Marcedes Lewis: Aaron Rodgers wanted the veteran run blocker on the field more in Week 2, and Matt LaFleur made it happen. Lewis played 31 snaps and was a big part of the outside zone run game. Week in and week out, he’s one of the team’s best blockers at the point of attack.
Offensive tackles: Left tackle Yosh Nijman and right tackle Elgton Jenkins both gave up a sack on Sunday night. Oh well. Nijman actually played a terrific overall game against edge rusher Robert Quinn, while Jenkins’ return solidified the right side of the line and made everyone else better, especially in the run game. Nijman keeps improving; Jenkins will get better and better as he knocks off the rust. Even if David Bakhtiari’s return never arrives, the Packers are in good hands at offensive tackle.
Stock down
Tackling on defense: For the second straight week, the Packers missed 10 total tackles on defense, per PFF. And it’s been a collective effort; after two games, seven defensive starters have at least two misses, including De’Vondre Campbell and Adrian Amos, two of the team’s most reliable defenders. For the run defense to improve, the Packers must get better at finishing.
WR Christian Watson: The rookie was on the field for just 22 snaps, down from 40 in the season opener. And he ran just seven total routes, the fewest among the wide receivers with at least 10 snaps. The Packers did scheme him up a few manufactured touches, but he turned three catches into just nine yards. Most of his work was done as the jet motion man.
DL Jarran Reed: The veteran interior lineman got pushed around in the run game and missed two tackles. Reed and TJ Slaton weren’t effective in run-stuffing roles.
Backup outside linebackers: The Packers aren’t showing much trust in backups Jonathan Garvin and Kingsley Enagbare at edge rusher. They combined for only seven total snaps. To be fair, the Bears only ran 41 plays, so Preston Smith and Rashan Gary probably didn’t need to come off the field.
