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5-minute guide to Green Bay Packers’ 2021 NFL season

By Brian Sampson

Aug 28, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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There have been a lot of changes in the NFL and with the Green Bay Packers over the last year plus due to COVID-19 which has made it hard to keep up with everything going on. But don’t you worry, we’ll help you get caught up in a jiffy and just in time for the start of the 2021 NFL season.

Although the Packers finished the preseason 0-3, head coach Matt LaFleur sat 30 or more guys in each of those three games. He’s clearly more worried about health and long-term progression than getting his top guys reps in exhibition games.

In order to prepare ourselves for the season–which somehow already begins this week–here’s everything you should know about the Packers before the real games kick-off.

Everything we think you should know about the Green Bay Packers’ upcoming 2021 NFL season wrapped up nice and neat for you.

Schedule

  • September 12 @ New Orleans Saints
  • September 20th vs Detroit Lions
  • September 26 @ San Francisco 49ers
  • October 3rd vs Pittsburg Steelers
  • October 10th @ Cincinnati Bengals
  • October 17th @ Chicago Bears
  • October 24th vs Washington Football Team
  • October 28th @ Arizona Cardinals
  • November 7th @ Kansas City Chiefs
  • November 14th vs Seattle Seahawks
  • November 21st @ Minnesota Vikings
  • November 28th vs Los Angeles Rams
  • December 12th vs Chicago Bears
  • December 19th @ Baltimore Ravens
  • December 25th vs Cleveland Browns
  • January 2nd vs Minnesota Vikings
  • January 9th @ Detroit Lions

17th game

The NFL added a 17th regular-season game this year and removed the fourth preseason game to balance it out. The way the league determined who would play who meant Green Bay got matched up with the Chiefs–the AFC’s top seed a year ago–in a game that will be played in the extremely loud Arrowhead stadium. Disadvantage: Packers.

Salary cap

The salary cap was a major topic of discussion all offseason. Green Bay was somehow able to keep David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and Kevin King while only losing Jamaal Williams and Corey Linsley in free agency. However, those moves all came at a cost and Green Bay is all in on the 2021 NFL season.

According to Spotrac, the Packers are already more than $25 million over next year’s salary cap and will have to do some major adjusting. It’s likely they move on from more than a couple of key players in an attempt to follow the NFL’s money rules.

New Coordinators

Green Bay brought in Joe Barry as their new defensive coordinator and Maurice Drayton as their special teams coordinator. Both guys take over units that left a lot to be desired a year ago. Barry looks to instill move freedom for his top guys, something players like Za’Darius Smith, Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage have been vocal about. As for Drayton, he’s just trying to keep the league’s worst special team’s unit afloat.

Draft picks

  • Round 1: No. 29–Eric Stokes, cornerback, Georgia
  • Round 2: No. 62–Josh Myers, center, Ohio State
  • Round 3: No. 85–Amari Rodgers, wide receiver, Clemson
  • Round 4: No. 142–Royce Newman, guard, Ole Miss
  • Round 5: No. 173–Tedarrell Slaton, defensive tackle, Florida
  • Round 6: No. 214–Cole Van Lanen, guard/tackle, Wisconsin (Practice squad)
  • Round 6: No. 220–Isaiah McDuffie, inside linebacker, Boston College
  • Round 7: No. 256–Kylin Hill, running back, Mississippi State

Probable starters

Offense:

  • Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers
  • Running back: Aaron Jones
  • Wide receiver: Davante Adams
  • Wide receiver: Marques Valdes-Scantling
  • Wide receiver: Allen Lazard
  • Tight end: Robert Tonyan
  • Left tackle: Elgton Jenkins
  • Left guard: Lucas Patrick
  • Center: Josh Myers
  • Right guard: Royce Newman
  • Right tackle: Billy Turner

Defense

  • Right end: Kingsley Keke
  • Nose tackle: Kenney Clark
  • Left end: Dean Lowry
  • Outside linebacker: Za’Darius Smith
  • Outside linebacker: Preston Smith
  • Inside linebacker: Krys Barnes
  • Inside linebacker: De’Vondre Campbell
  • Cornerback: Jaire Alexander
  • Cornerback: Kevin King
  • Safety: Adrian Amos
  • Safety: Darnell Savage

Aaron Rodgers

There was a lot of drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers over the offseason. It all started on draft day when it was announced that Rodgers adamantly wanted out of Titletown. The drama continued deep into the offseason and Rodgers even miss organized team activities. He was eventually able to repair his relationship enough with the front office that he returned to the team for the start of training camp.

Although Rodgers loves his coaching staff, teammates, and the fans, his main issues are with the guys calling the shots about the team. They agreed to a bit of a contract restructure and the Packers reportedly agreed to trade him if he’s still unhappy at the end of this season. Enjoy this year, as it could be the last with Rodgers at the helm.

dark. Next. Packers: 10 bold predictions for 2021 NFL season

Other key notes

  • The Packers’ first game of the season against the Saints has been moved to Jacksonville due to the damage caused by Hurricane Larry
  • David Bakhtiari, the Packers’ All-Pro left tackle, will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Meaning he’ll miss at least the first six games.
  • Za’Darius Smith has yet to practice with Green Bay due to a back injury and I’d be very surprised if he suits up in the first game of the season.
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