Is Aaron Rodgers missing voluntary OTAs a big deal?
Matt LaFleur isn't pleased that his quarterback isn't at voluntary OTAs. But Colin Cowherd is siding with Aaron Rodgers.JUNE 1
Rodgers absent as Packers conduct voluntary OTAs this week
Reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers was one of several notable veterans missing as the Green Bay Packers began voluntary organized team activities this weekMAY 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Packers defense ready to deal with heightened expectations
The Green Bay Packers may rely on a different formula than usual as they chase their fourth consecutive NFC North title and first Super Bowl berth in more than a decade, The trade...MAY 17 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Packers draft 3 WRs to give Rodgers more playmakers
Green Bay’s greatest position of concern heading into the draft remains a bit of a question mark even after the Packers selected three candidates to catch passes from reigning MVP...APRIL 30 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Extra picks give Packers' Gutekunst plenty of trade options
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has a history of making deals early in drafts and has more trade options than usual this year with four of the top 59 overall pick...APRIL 25 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Back with Packers, Campbell wants to prove 2021 was no fluke
Green Bay Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell considered his new contract a dream come true, but it apparently wasn’t cause for celebrationAPRIL 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Packers announce Rodgers has signed contract extension
Aaron Rodgers has officially signed a contract extension assuring the two-time reigning MVP will remain with the Green Bay PackersMARCH 15 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pack extend Preston Smith, release Za'Darius Smith, Turner
The Green Bay Packers signed outside linebacker Preston Smith to a contract extension and released outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith and offensive lineman Billy Turner in a flurry...MARCH 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Signing four-year extension Smith and the Packers have reached agreement on a four-year contract extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Impact Prior to the extension, Smith was scheduled for a $19.7 million cap hit in 2022, the final season of a four-year contract he signed in March 2019. With Smith coming back and the Packers facing a difficult cap situation, it didn't come as much of a surprise that the team moved on from fellow pass rusher Za'Darius Smith, who also was signed in March 2019. While Za'Darius was the more productive of the two in 2019 and 2020, he managed just one appearance in 2021 due to a back injury, which helped set the stage for a breakout from 2019 first-round pick Rashan Gary (9.5 sacks, 28 QB hits last season). The Packers will be in good shape at outside linebacker in 2022 with Preston Smith and Gary leading the way.
MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE
Green Bay Packers face questions in defensive trenches
The Packers have decisions to make on the defensive side of the ball this offseason, specifically up front.FEBRUARY 9
Heading into final year of contract Smith racked up 38 tackles (25 solo), nine sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 16 games in 2021.
Impact Smith has now recorded seven consecutive 16-game seasons, though he ended his ironman streak by sitting out Green Bay's Week 7 win over Washington. The 29-year-old is still under contract for 2022, but given that Smith is scheduled for nearly a $20 million cap hit, the Packers could approach him about restructuring his deal this offseason in order to remain on the roster.
FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE
Packers activate Za'Darius Smith, Whitney Mercilus from IR
The Green Bay Packers have boosted their pass rush as outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus have been activated from injured reserveJANUARY 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Packers OLB Za'Darius Smith practicing, eyes playoff return
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith is practicing again and could return for the playoffs after missing nearly the entire regular seasonJANUARY 12 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Playing hurt, often willingly, is common for NFL players
Philip Rivers played an AFC championship game with a torn ACLJANUARY 6 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Postseason status of injured Packers remains uncertain
The Green Bay Packers found a way to earn the NFC’s top playoff seed even after injuries left them without a few of their top performers from last seasonJANUARY 3 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Snags another sack Smith registered four tackles (three solo), a sack and a pass deflection in Sunday's 37-10 victory over the Vikings.
Impact Smith totaled just two sacks over his first eight appearances of the season, but he has picked up the pace in a big way since, taking down the quarterback seven times over his last seven games. Smith's nine sacks are the second-most he has recorded in his seven NFL seasons and are more than double the 4.0 sacks he tallied in 2020.
JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE
Preston Smith leaves Sean Mannion with nowhere to go on third-down sack Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith leaves Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sean Mannion with nowhere to go on third-down sack.
JANUARY 2 • NFL.COM
Vikings seek to complete sweep of NFC North champion Packers
The NFC North champion Green Bay Packers continue their bid for the conference's No. 1 playoff seed and first-round bye as they host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday nightDECEMBER 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lawrence, McCaffrey, Jones headline 2021 All-Absent Team
Every year, players in every NFL city fail to meet expectationsDECEMBER 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Breakdowns on special teams give Packers reason to worry
The Green Bay Packers still have plenty of causes for concern as they close in on their third straight NFC North titleDECEMBER 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tallies two more sacks Smith recorded four tackles (three solo), tallied two sacks and forced a fumble in Sunday's 45-30 victory over the Bears.
Impact Smith registered both his first multi-sack effort and first forced fumble of the season in the Packers' Week 11 loss to the Vikings, and he repeated that performance just two games later. Smith is now up to 7.0 sacks on the season, with five of those coming over the last four games he appeared in.
DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Fields can't sustain strong 1st-half play in Bears' loss
Justin Fields came back after missing two games and spent the first half Sunday night building on the momentum he had started to establish before his rib injuryDECEMBER 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rodgers throws 4 TD passes, Packers defeat Bears 45-30
Aaron Rodgers threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns to continue his mastery of the NFL’s oldest rivalry as the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 45-30DECEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stafford's pick-6 streak continues as Rams drop 3rd straight
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams both extended some unwanted streaks SundayNOVEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Toe injury can't stop Rodgers as Packers defeat Rams 36-28
Aaron Rodgers withstood pain from a toe injury, threw two touchdown passes and also ran for a score in the Green Bay Packers’ 36-28 victory over the Los Angeles RamsNOVEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
