Green Bay Packers

Preview: Packers won't lean solely on 'quick game' against Vikings

Published Sep. 14, 2018 12:30 p.m. ET

GREEN BAY, Wis. — For the Minnesota Vikings, it's more about whether Aaron Rodgers will have his full bag of tricks while playing with a knee injury than if he'll be playing at all.

The Vikings are thoroughly convinced the Green Bay Packers quarterback will be in uniform Sunday when they visit Lambeau Field.

"I don't know if he's mobile. I don't know if he can run. We don't know anything," Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen said. "We're just going to go in with a game plan, that he's running and we're going to go out there and execute our assignment."

The game before the game between these NFC North rivals involved discerning the status of the Packers' two-time NFL MVP. At midweek, Rodgers was held out of practice to focus on rehab with what the quarterback said was a sprained left knee.

Coach Mike McCarthy said he would be evaluated each day after Rodgers got hurt in the second quarter of last week's win over the Chicago Bears . McCarthy said Rodgers playing "is no layup."

One of Rodgers' many strengths is his mobility, which allows him to extend plays outside the pocket. The knee injury limited Rodgers' movement against Chicago. He still carved up the secondary operating in a shotgun or pistol formation, and without a huddle.

"I think as you saw the other night, just because I wasn't escaping the pocket, I was still moving in the pocket — subtle movements on the throw to (receiver Davante Adams) up in the pocket, and subtle movements on the throw to (Randall Cobb) on the last touchdown of the game," Rodgers said.

The quick-pace offense looked unstoppable. It doesn't mean that's all the Packers will do with a limited Rodgers.

"Doesn't mean you have to get the ball out right away. We're playing a great defense, but no, I don't think it makes you go all quick game," he said.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer recognized the differences in Rodgers in that game. He also won't underestimate him.

"But our biggest thing is that you have to prepare for every scenario," Zimmer said. "If he looks like he's moving pretty well, then we have to adjust to some other parts of the game plan."

Some other notes and things to watch:

SMALL CLUB

Rodgers has thrown only six interceptions in 19 games as a starter against the Vikings, including one playoff game. Over the last seven seasons, the Vikings have picked him off three times in 13 games: Harrison Smith in 2012, Xavier Rhodes in 2015 and Trae Waynes in 2016.

"When he's moving around, he's not always moving around to run, he's moving around and freeing up guys down the field," Smith said.

SHOULDERING LOAD

Adams, the Packers' top receiver, was also held out of practice at midweek with a shoulder injury suffered during the Bears game. Adams said it was a precaution and that he thought he would play. The injury doesn't appear serious, but still bears watching given how important Adams is to the offense, particularly with Rodgers also hurt.

"So we're just taking it light a little bit just so we can build up and be ready for Sunday," Adams said.

DISRUPTION ON D

The Vikings made their biggest splash of the offseason by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, but the following day they made another significant addition with Sheldon Richardson. The sixth-year defensive tackle, after a quiet preseason, immediately made his presence felt in his first real game for Minnesota with six tackles, a half-sack and a team-high three hits on San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. During a sack by defensive end Danielle Hunter, Richardson pushed Garoppolo off his spot and steered him toward his teammate.

With Richardson and nose tackle Linval Joseph capable of stuffing inside running plays and collapsing the pocket on a consistent basis, Hunter and fellow defensive end Everson Griffen ought to have more opportunities for sacks.

DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND

A Packers defense in its first game under new coordinator Mike Pettine also stepped up in the comeback over Chicago, holding the Bears to two field goals in the second half. Cousins doesn't have a lot of film to study the Packers' tendencies under Pettine.

"It's not easy; I think you do the best you can," Cousins said. "Trust your eyes, trust your rules and try to make good decisions."

OUT WIDE

Packers rookie cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson, along with second-year cornerback Kevin King, will be tested by the Vikings' standout receiving duo of Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. Thielen, who had a career-best 12 catches for 202 yards and two scores at Lambeau in December 2016, is looking forward to playing in Green Bay early in the season.

"It will be nice actually playing on a good field," Thielen said.

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PACKERS-VIKINGS CAPSULE

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE - Packers by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Minnesota 1-0, Green Bay 0-1

SERIES RECORD - Packers lead 60-53-2

LAST MEETING - Vikings beat Packers 16-0, Dec. 23, 2017

LAST WEEK - Vikings beat 49ers 24-16; Packers beat Bears 24-23

AP PRO32 RANKING - Vikings No. 3, Packers No. 6

VIKINGS OFFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (15t), PASS (17).

VIKINGS DEFENSE - OVERALL (12t), RUSH (9), PASS (18).

PACKERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (10), RUSH (28), PASS (7).

PACKERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (24), PASS (7).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Vikings swept season series last year, first time since 2009. ... QB Kirk Cousins 20 of 36 for 244 yards, two TDs in Vikings debut last week. ... RB Dalvin Cook had 95 total yards in first game back since knee injury in Week 4 last year. ... WR Stefon Diggs has 18 catches for 271 yards and three TDs in last three games vs. Packers. ... WR Adam Thielen had 102 yards receiving last week, eighth career game over 100-yard mark. ... TE Kyle Rudolph has four TDs in past four road games. ... DE Everson Griffen has five sacks, two forced fumbles in past six games against Green Bay. ... S Harrison Smith has four INTs, eight pass deflections and 1 1/2 sacks in last five divisional games. ... First-round pick CB Mike Hughes had three tackles, three pass deflections and 28-yard INT returned for TD in debut. Hughes was first Vikings rookie to return INT for score since Smith in 2012. ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has 19 TDs, four INTs and 111.8 rating in nine career home games vs. Vikings. ... Rodgers only player to have four games with four-plus TD passes and no INTs against Minnesota. ... RB Jamaal Williams averaging 72.7 yards over past three home games. ... WR Davante Adams has TD in last four games against Vikings. ... WR Randall Cobb tied for ninth in franchise history with 22 receiving TDs at home. ... Jimmy Graham's 44 receiving TDs most among tight ends since 2013. ... DL Kenny Clark had career-high two sacks in last meeting. ... LB Nick Perry with four sacks in three career games at Lambeau against Vikings. ... S Kentrell Brice led team last week with career-high nine tackles and had first career sack. ... Fantasy tip: Rodgers threw three TD passes in fourth quarter against Bears after returning from knee injury despite being limited to pocket. Expect him to play as Packers face another formidable defense, though Rodgers is masterful running no-huddle attack with quick, precision passing.