Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister credited organizers for "trying," but said there was a "lot of disappointment" over problems that led to the first NFL game in Canada since 2013 to be played on an 80-yard field.
The backup quarterback battle between DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle will go down to the end of the preseason. While it seemed Kizer has been in the No. 2 spot most of camp, Boyle's two-TD showing in the start against the Raiders tightened things up going into the final preseason game on Thursday against the Chiefs. "We're going to evaluation from here until that decision has to be made," LaFleur said. Either way, GM Brian Gutekunst indicated last week that the backup QB is probably someone who's on the roster already.
Matt LaFleur said ultimately the reason he yanked his starters before kickoff on Thursday night in Winnipeg was a gut feeling. "Something in my gut. I was told when I got this job to trust my gut," LaFleur said.
Matt LaFleur's challenge this week is both getting the team ready for the regular-season opener, which is less than two weeks ago, but also making final roster evaluations. He mentioned possibly even splitting up the team into two different practices. "You would like to get a jump on the season opener, but there's still some position battles going on," LaFleur said.
Packers receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, who almost certainly would have been in the rotation to start the season, might miss six weeks with a left high ankle sprain, a source told ESPN.
Equanimeous St. Brown's injury is a left-ankle sprain, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. That's probably the best-case scenario for St. Brown, considering he couldn't walk off the field without assistance on Thursday night against the Raiders. However, it means St. Brown almost certainly won't be ready for the start of the regular season. It looks like it could be a six-week recovery time. Good thing for the Packers that they have what Aaron Rodgers called "one of the deeper [receiver] groups that we've had."
The Packers and Raiders ad-libbed, Daniel Jones impressed and Tom Brady showed his wheels. Here's a look at the big takeaways from the third full week of the 2019 NFL preseason.
No post-game injury updates from Packers coach Matt LaFleur, but here's what came out of the game: Rashan Gary: Undisclosed injury but his agent tweeted that he "is fine and doing well." Equanimeous St. Brown: Left leg/ankle injury that appeared to be serious. Curtis Bolton: On crutches with a brace on his right knee. Allen Lazard: Appeared to land on his head/right shoulder.
Daniel Carson kicked a 33-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining, and the Oakland Raiders earned a bizarre 22-21 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers Thursday night on a field that was shortened to 80 yards over concerns about player safety.
Aaron Rodgers said on the Packers TV broadcast that not playing tonight has "nothing to do with (his sore) back, it's more the field conditions that we had tonight."
Rashan Gary's agency posted in a tweet that the Packers' first-round pick, who was taken to the locker room in a car, is OK. "[He] is fine and doing well. Thank you to everyone for their prayers and concern," RG Sports posted on Twitter.
Tim Boyle's numbers as he led the Packers to a 21-10 halftime lead: 16-of-25 for 191 yards and two touchdowns/no interceptions. His preseason totals: 31-of-57 for 338 yards and five touchdowns/no interceptions.
The Raiders-Packers preseason game Thursday night was played on an 80-yard field thanks to issues in the original end zones of IG Field in Winnipeg.
Packers WR Equanimeous St. Brown appears to have a left leg/knee injury. He was carted to the locker room at halftime. Earlier, first-round pick Rashan Gary also took the cart to the locker room.
Not to be outdone by Trevor Davis, fellow receivers Darrius Shepherd (with a stellar over-the-shoulder catch for 22 yards) and Allen Lazard (two catches for 24 yards) show what they can do during the 2-minute drive -- the third straight TD drive for Tim Boyle.
Another great preseason for Jake Kumerow. With two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown tonight, he has seven catches for 99 yards and a TD in parts of three preseason games.
With two touchdown passes tonight, Tim Boyle now had five in three preseason games without an interception. He's 10-of-18 for 122 yards and two TDs tonight and 25-of-44 for 269 yards and five TDs this summer.
So Trevor Davis has his roster spot about locked up. Rushing: 1-18 yards. Receiving: 2-33, 1 TD. Punt return: 1-17. Your turn, Allen Lazard, Darrius Shepherd, J'Mon Moore for that potential last receiver spot.
Trevor Davis showed in 2 plays why he could be so valuable: A 17-yard punt return and a 38-yard run on a toss end around. Davis, who is in the thick of the receiver competition, is making his preseason debut after he suffered a stinger on Aug. 5
Packers who won't play tonight in Winnipeg after issues with the field: QB Aaron Rodgers. WR Davante Adams. CB Kevin King*. CB Jaire Alexander. S Josh Jones*. S Darnell Savage. CB Ka'dar Hollman*. RB Jamaal Williams. S Adrian Amos. RB Aaron Jones. S Ibraheim Campbell*. CB Tramon Williams. LB Oren Burks*. FB Danny Vitale*. CB Kabion Ento*. LB Blake Martinez*. LB Za'Darius Smith. LB Greg Roberts*. C Corey Linsley. G Lane Taylor. T David Bakhtiari. G Elgton Jenkins. T Bryan Bulaga. G Billy Turner. TE Jimmy Graham. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. TE Jace Sternberger*. TE Marcedes Lewis. LB Preston Smith. LB Reggie Gilbert*. DL Dean Lowry. DL Kenny Clark. DL Fadol Brown* *Denotes injured player who likely would not have played in this game.
The Packers will get a long look at inside linebackers Curtis Bolton and Ty Summers tonight against the Raiders in Winnipeg. They're expected to start now that Blake Martinez won't play, according to a source. Martinez did not make the trip, although the source said it's nothing serious and he will be ready for Week 1. Nevertheless, it should help tell the Packers whether they can rely on the two rookies or whether they will have to add to that position before the regular-season opener.
Here's what the new coaches of the Packers, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Dolphins and Cardinals have to do to make successful transitions.
The knock on the Packers' first-round pick was that he was an injured underachiever. He's healthy but the production is still a work in progress.
