Jordan Love concludes first preseason as Packers starter with touchdown to Christian Watson in 19-15 win
GREEN BAY – Matt LaFleur called a timeout just to save 17 seconds on the first-quarter clock. AJ Dillon trotted off the sideline, part decoy, part protection.
It was second-and-1 near midfield in the Green Bay Packers preseason finale Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks, and everyone inside Lambeau Field had to know a shot play was coming. Christian Watson pulled away from the Seahawks secondary, wide open down the left side. Jordan Love reared back to throw for what should have been a touchdown.
Instead, his pass was a few yards short. Watson was open enough he still had a manageable catch anyway, but the football smacked off his hands, incomplete.
If the Packers’ 19-15 win against the Seahawks was a final dress rehearsal for Week 1, LaFleur probably learned nothing he didn’t already know. Love can manage his offense. He still needs work on downfield throws, which is how an offense makes a living in today’s NFL.
Love finished his preseason completing 9-of-15 passes for 63 yards, one touchdown and a 91.8 rating. His score came on a 6-yard fade to Watson against Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson, Seattle’s only defensive starter who played.
In eight preseason possessions, Love completed 21-of-33 passes (63.6%) for 193 yards (5.84 yards per pass), three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 109.79 rating. He missed a deep shot to Watson in the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and Saturday against the Seahawks, connecting with Romeo Doubs on a 42-yard reception against the New England Patriots in between.
In his first preseason as the Packers starting quarterback in 2008, Aaron Rodgers completed 37-of-54 passes (68.5%) for 436 yards (8.07 yards per pass), three touchdowns, an interception and a 103.63 rating.
The Packers played most of their starters on both sides of the ball Saturday, a departure from how LaFleur has treated preseason in the past. LaFleur said this week his new approach is in part a response to sluggish openers the Packers have had over the past couple of years. The Packers have lost their past two regular-season openers by a combined score of 61-10 against the New Orleans Saints (38-3 in 2021) and Minnesota Vikings (23-7 last season).
Left tackle David Bakhtiari, cornerback Jaire Alexander, outside linebacker Rashan Gary and receiver Romeo Doubs were the lone Packers starters who did not play Saturday. Doubs was out with a hamstring injury, the team announced before kickoff. Gary participated in pregame warmups, including team walkthrough, a sign he’s on a positive trajectory for Week 1. Defensive lineman Kenny Clark played two series, his first snaps of the preseason.
The preseason finale was more than dress rehearsal for Week 1. It was the final audition for players on the bubble to make their case for the 53-man roster. Here are some quick observations on how Saturday might have influenced depth chart decisions.
Alex McGough goes deep
It took three weeks, but Alex McGough finally got a real chance to show what he can do in this preseason. It was probably enough for him to earn a spot on the Packers practice squad. More notably, McGough connected with receiver Jadakis Bonds for a 52-yard bomb down the left sideline. After only seven snaps in Cincinnati – three kneel downs – McGough didn’t play last week against the Patriots because play was suspended with 10:29 left in the game. McGough played the fourth quarter Saturday, completing 4-of-5 passes for 69 yards and a 118.8 rating. McGough also broke a tackle for a 5-yard run. He led a 10-play, 89-yard touchdown drive late in the game. It took a long time for McGough to appear in the preseason, but patience was worthwhile for last season’s USFL MVP.
Undrafted rookie Malik Heath’s role growing
Malik Heath’s continual rise through the offseason hit a new high when he took the field with the Packers starting offense, replacing Doubs. Heath was called for a false start on the game’s first snap, but he responded catching three of his four targets from Love for 29 yards. It was the first tangible evidence Samori Toure’s position as the Packers fourth receiver might not be secure. Toure and Heath and both making the initial roster, but it’s at least close between the two when it comes to the first receiver off the sideline after Watson, Doubs and rookie Jayden Reed. Heath finished with four catches on seven targets for 35 yards. Toure had two catches on four targets for 16 yards and handled punt and kickoff return duties.
A good look at potential RB3
The entire league has devalued the running back position. Brian Gutekunst, based on his 53-man rosters, does not. Gutekunst has kept at least three running backs on three of his past five initial rosters, a tendency he might have picked up from predecessor Ted Thompson. (Thompson kept three running backs on each of his final five initial 53-man rosters.) The only exceptions were last year, when Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon were the clear-cut top two, and 2018. That year, Jones opened the season with a two-game suspension after a marijuana citation. The Packers knew he would return quickly. Kylin Hill (2021), Dillon (2020) and Dexter Williams (2019) served as No. 3 running backs in the recent past. What each had in common was the status of a drafted rookie, something Gutekunst has a history of favoring. With Jones not dressing for Saturday’s preseason finale, the Packers effectively offered a tryout for their potential third running back job between Emanuel Wilson and Patrick Taylor, neither a drafted rookie. Both got snaps with Love. Wilson led the Packers with 17 carries and 49 yards and also caught two passes for 9 yards. Taylor added six carries and 24 yards and caught one pass for 8 yards.
Packers might be short on tight ends
LaFleur likes the tight end position. He wants his offense to be multiple, which means ideally playing more than one tight end on a healthy portion of snaps. He just might not have that option. The Packers have three tight ends secure for a roster spot, though veteran Josiah Deguara is more of an H-back in the offense. Behind Deguara, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, Austin Allen is an intriguing prospect. Allen, a huge target standing 6-8, was a first-team All-Big Ten tight end at Nebraska two years ago. He just isn’t playing special teams. More than being an intriguing prospect, a fourth tight end must play special teams. Allen’s absence from those units is not an encouraging sign for his chances at cracking the 53. LaFleur said this week having only three tight ends is “on the table” for the initial roster, crediting the Packers depth at receiver. It’s possible LaFleur might use more 11 personnel with three receivers, but don’t be surprised if Gutekunst is scouring the waiver wire for tight ends with special-teams value after final cuts.
More: Packers roster breakdown: Brian Gutekunst must navigate a large bubble on his way to the final 53
Anders Carlson drains long field goal
A lot has been made about Anders Carlson’s lows in camp, and for good reason. He made fewer than 70% of his kicks since the team convened in late July. The Packers have been steadfast they will be patient with their rookie kicker, and Carlson showed why at the end of Saturday’s first half. The sixth-round pick drained a 57-yard field goal with ease, a kick that would have been good from more than 60 yards. More specifically, it was a kick veteran Mason Crosby wouldn’t have had the leg to make, certainly not as comfortably as Carlson did. Crosby’s distance dwindled last season. Carlson might have one of the more powerful legs in the league, which will help on kickoffs as well. He’ll need to be more consistent. Carlson had an extra point blocked against the Seahawks, his third missed extra point this season. But his cannon of a right leg is worth being patient for. On the preseason, Carlson made all four of his field goals from 43, 45, 52 and 57 yards and was 5-of-8 on extra points.