Green Bay Packers: Christian McCaffrey Not Expected to Play on Saturday

It has been reported that the Carolina Panthers do not expect Christian McCaffrey to play this week against the Green Bay Packers.

With their win this past Sunday over Detroit, the Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North, and they also became the NFC’s new No. 1 seed after Philadelphia was able to knock off New Orleans. That means that the Packers control their own destiny, and if they are able to win their final three games, they’ll secure a first-round bye, and the NFC playoffs will go through Lambeau Field.

The first of these final three games will be against the Carolina Panthers, who, from the sounds of it, will once again be without star running back Christian McCaffrey. David Newton, who covers the Panthers for ESPN, reported on Tuesday that Head Coach Matt Rhule “does not expect” McCaffrey to play.

After signing a contract extension this past spring to become the highest-paid running back in NFL history, this season, McCaffrey has appeared in only three games due to a few different injuries and recently ending up on the reserve/COVID list.

Even if McCaffrey were to play, this is still certainly a game that the Green Bay Packers should win–especially at home. However, McCaffrey’s absence will make things easier on a Mike Pettine defense that has struggled against players with McCaffrey’s skill-set.

Since entering the NFL in 2017, McCaffrey has been a do-it-all back for the Panthers. During his first three seasons, he’s totaled nearly 3,000 rushing yards, including two 1,000 yard seasons, while averaging 4.7 yards per carry with 24 touchdowns. In the passing game, he has another 2,500 yards on 303 receptions and 15 more touchdowns over that same span, with a 1,000-yard season a year ago.

McCaffrey led the NFL in touches in 2019, and he became only the third player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season and post 1,000 receiving yards as well. He is what makes this Panther offense hum, and he is someone who could have played a key role in upsetting this Packers team at Lambeau Field; potentially shredding the Green Bay defense.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is another player who is equally dangerous in both the running and passing games. Against Green Bay earlier this season, Kamara totaled 58 rushing yards at almost 10 yards per carry and 139 receiving yards with two touchdowns. Pro Football Focus ($) also credits the Packers with eight missed tackles that game, but that’s even low compared to Matt LaFleur’s final figure.

While the 109.7 rushing yards per game that Green Bay is allowing doesn’t look so bad and is the 11th lowest total in football, that doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. With the Packer offense putting up so many points, opponents don’t have the opportunity to stick to the run game. However, the 4.6 yards per carry that the defense is allowing, which ranks 23rd, is a more accurate representation of the struggles that they’re still having in the run game.

In the passing game, the 50.77 yards per game that Green Bay is giving up to running backs is the most in the NFL, while the 8.92 yards per catch is the third most. And tackling McCaffrey in the open field would have certainly been an issue as well. By Pro Football Focus’ grading system, the Green Bay Packers currently rank 28th in tackling.

McCaffrey is a really good player; it’s not as if the Packers are the only defense that would have trouble containing him. But where McCaffrey excels, well, that is two of the weaker components of this Green Bay team. It just wouldn’t be a good matchup. Last season when the Packers and Panthers met, McCaffrey finished with 141 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. Although I will say, the defense did a good job of not letting him take the game over as they were able to limit the explosive plays.

However, now having said all of that, it appears to be a moot point. Of course, things can change, and perhaps there is some gamesmanship going on from Matt Rhule, but from the sound of it, Carolina will be without Christian McCaffrey this Saturday, who, if available, is someone that could have wrecked this game for Green Bay as they pursue the NFC’s No. 1 seed.