Packers preseason Game 1 vs Texans: The good, the bad, the grade
There was a lot to learn from the Green Bay Packers’ preseason opener on Saturday night–a 26-7 loss to the Houston Texans. Some of it good and some of it bad.
Green Bay sat out 30 players including most of their starters on both sides of the ball. This allowed the younger guys plenty of opportunities to prove themselves and take a step toward earning a final roster spot entering the regular season. However, some guys did just the opposite. Let’s take a look at those who stood out (the good), those who need improvements (the bad), and grade the team based on their first performance.
Let’s check out the good, the bad, and the grade for the Green Bay Packers’ 2021 preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
The Good:
Devin Funchess, Jordan Love, Oren Burks, backup safeties, Kylin Hill
In his first game action in about a year and a half, Jordan Love had a lot of impressive moments out there. He looked comfortable and smooth in the pocket and led Green Bay on an 88-yard touchdown drive for their only score of the game. Although the results aren’t as great as you’d like, the process appeared to go well for him.
One of Love’s favorite targets in this contest was Devin Funchess. Funchess came to play and continuously found himself open–he even made a sweet one-handed catch over the middle at one point. This was a huge step forward toward making the final roster for the veteran.
Kylin Hill, a seventh-round draft pick this year, also had a couple of splash plays. There wasn’t anything going in the running game thanks to the offensive line’s struggles, but Hill caught a screen pass in the second quarter and took it 22 yards for a score.
On the other side of the ball, Oren Burks, Vernon Scott, Henry Black and Innis Gaines all had impressive moments. Burks arguably looked the best he has as a pro. He played aggressively and fast and was in the backfield a number of times. As for the important third safety position, Scott, Black and Gaines all made contributions in tonight’s contest. With the two starting jobs locked up, those three made a strong push for Green Bay to keep them over Will Redmond on the roster.