Green Bay Packers: Role Players & Backups Stepping Up

Although the stars of this Green Bay Packers team will draw much of the attention — and understandably so — it takes all 53 players on an NFL roster to get through a season—or at least to do so successfully. In fact, it takes more than that if you include the practice squad.

Through just six games, this saying has already held true for the Green Bay Packers, who have had to deal with several key injuries at the start of the season.

The Packers have, of course, been without David Bakhtiari, and so far this season, at various points, they’ve been without Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Za’Darius Smith, Krys Barnes, Kevin King, and Jaire Alexander. We also don’t know if Preston Smith or Darnell Savage will be available this coming Sunday.

Yet, somehow, the Green Bay Packers are 5-1. Of course, Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, Kenny Clark, and players of that ilk are a big reason why. However, when handling this many significant injuries, in addition to the stars playing like stars, it’s vital that role players and backups step up as well—and that is exactly what has happened.

On the offensive line, Jon Runyan, Lucas Patrick, and Yosh Nijman have all been tasked with coming off the bench to fill in. As a unit, despite the positional changes and inexperience, the Green Bay Packers still rank fifth in ESPN’s pass-block win rate and ninth in run-block win rate.

At receiver, Randall Cobb has been a very reliable target for Rodgers on third downs, Equanimeous St. Brown has played meaningful snaps, while Allen Lazard continues to thrive in his role as the team “goon” with his blocking abilities. The tight ends also deserve credit for their contributions as blockers and helping this offensive line unit.

On defense, as I wrote recently, Kenny Clark has been receiving help, specifically from Dean Lowry, who has eight pressures along with two sacks over the last two weeks, according to PFF ($$). We’ve seen flashes from Kingsley Keke as well. This additional push upfront not only benefits Clark but also the rest of this defense.

The Green Bay Packers have become very thin at edge rusher, losing Z. Smith and Chauncey Rivers to IR, along with P. Smith missing most of Week 6 after leaving early with an injury. But in their place, Jonathan Garvin has provided some much-needed help as of late. His nine total pressures is the fifth most on the team, and he also has two sacks per PFF.

Then there is Chandon Sullivan, who has stepped up his game in the slot these past two weeks without Alexander. Against Cincinnati and Chicago, he has allowed just two receptions on six targets for only 11 yards.

Rasul Douglas deserves credit as well. Despite being on the team for only two weeks, he ended up playing 52 snaps in Chicago, flying around the field, making five tackles, and allowing three receptions on six targets for only 32 yards.

"“We talked about that after the (Bears) game. A lot of guys stepped up,” defensive captain Kenny Clark said via Packers.com. “Guys have been coming in and just making an impact on our team. It says a lot about our depth. It says a lot about how the guys prepare. Everybody prepares as a starter. It’s a next-man-up mentality.”"

There are other examples, but you get the idea. Football is the ultimate team game, and one key aspect to the Green Bay Packers 5-1 start is that the role players and backups are contributing when called upon.