Reactions to Preseason Week 2

The biggest win for the Packers during Week 2 of the preseason may not have been their 21-7 victory over the Rams but rather the ability to come away from the game without a single serious injury. Though one could argue that the pass defense allowed too much productivity from a pedestrian St. Louis offense, the Packers looked sharp in most other aspects of the game.

Mike McCarthy played the starters for two series and then allocated the remainder of the game to players fighting for roster spots. Green Bay’s third preseason game scheduled for next Friday should feature at least a full half of playing time for starters. One must consider whether the extra playing time for Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy warrants the additional injury risk. Furthermore, every series played by Rodgers takes time away from Scott Tolzien and Matt Flynn, who are battling for the No.2 quarterback spot.

Other observations from the preseason victory over the Rams include the abnormally high amount of playing time for Andrew Quarless, who is a known commodity at this point in his career. Though Richard Rodgers did receive the start at tight end, he did not appear to be as involved as Quarless on offense. More concerning was the poor performance by backup tackles Derek Sherrod and Aaron Adams, who are expected to fill the shoes of Don Barclay.

In addition to coming out of the game injury-free, the starting offensive line flashed glimpses of greatness, keeping Rodgers off the turf against one of the league’s best defensive lines. On the other side of the ball, the run defense shut down the St. Louis ground attack for four quarters. With Oakland coming to town next week, Week 2 of the preseason will likely serve as the toughest competition faced by the starters until Week 1 of the regular season.