Green Bay Packers: 3 Matchups to Watch in Week 14
By Kenny Jilek
Packers Linebackers vs. T.J. Hockenson
None of the Packers’ linebackers have been exceedingly successful in coverage this year, and now they face a first-round tight end who’s really coming into his own in his second year. Last week, Eagles’ tight end Dallas Goedert was their only real bright spot, catching five passes for 66 yards. Tight ends haven’t been too detrimental to Green Bay this season, but Hockenson is one of the Lions’ best weapons, and they’ll need to know where he is at all times.
This season, Hockenson has increased the completion rate on balls thrown his way from 54.2 all the way to 67.5 percent. He’s already over 600 yards receiving, ranking him third among tight ends behind only stars Darren Waller and Travis Kelce. He also has caught five touchdowns after having just two last season.
There should be an extra focus on the Lions’ rising tight end this week from Green Bay’s defense because he is one of the only places they have an advantage on that side of the ball. With Kenny Golladay out, it leaves Jaire Alexander on Marvin Jones Jr., which should be one of his easier matchups of the season but not a pushover. Every other receiver slides up one on the depth chart, and the Packers’ secondary is well-equipped to handle all of them well. Hockenson in the middle of the field is where the Lions should be living.
He’ll have an especially easy time there this week due to the absence of Raven Greene, who was placed on IR this week. As a hybrid safety that played in the box, he took many snaps on passing downs and was their best coverage player in those situations. Now, Kamal Martin, Christian Kirksey, and Krys Barnes will have to play that role more, or we’ll see even more defensive backs in the game. The possibility of rookie Vernon Scott seeing time in that role is on the table as he often did it in college, so watch for his number 36 out there as well on third and long.