Adrian Amos Will Play vs. Giants plus a look at the Packers inactives
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers listed their inactives for Sunday’s game in London against the New York Giants, and the good news is that Adrian Amos is not on that list.
However, the list does include Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, Samori Toure, Jonathan Ford, and Tariq Carpenter. None of this comes as a surprise, with Walker, Rhyan, Toure, and Ford all being inactive each game this season, as they all essentially have red-shirt rookie seasons.
The fifth inactive player is rookie first-round pick Devonte Wyatt who missed a day of practice earlier in the week and was listed as questionable. Wyatt has played just 28 total snaps this season but with him and Ford both inactive, that leaves the Packers with only four active interior defensive linemen against a very run-heavy Giants team.
Amos left last week’s game and was in concussion protocol during the week. He did return to Packers practice in a limited capacity and was listed as questionable on Friday.
In Amos’ place was Rudy Ford, who performed well, playing 44 snaps, a majority of which came in the box and as the free safety. He was in on seven tackles, with no misses, and allowed no receptions on two targets, according to PFF ($$).
In the Packers’ typical cover-2 shell, a primary responsibility of the safeties is to limit the big passing play. The Giants, however, have been reluctant to push the ball downfield this season, with Daniel Jones only attempting four passes beyond 20 yards this season, which ranks as the ninth fewest out of 42 eligible quarterbacks.
Although there may not be many downfield attempts, the Green Bay safeties will have to be very active against the run. Led by Saquon Barkley, the Giants lean heavily on the run game. Barkley has been among the best this season in average yards per carry, missed tackles forced, and average yards after contact.
With Amos back on the field, the Packers’ special teams unit will receive a boost as well. With Ford playing safety, he played fewer special teams snaps, depending on the situation, including sitting out on a few punt coverage snaps.
Not coincidentally, Marcus Jones of the Patriots averaged 24.5 yards per return on two attempts. The week before, Ford, along with Keisean Nixon, played key roles in Pat O’Donnell pinning Tampa Bay inside their own 15-yard line on five of seven punts.
Since joining the Packers in 2019, Amos has been incredibly durable, playing over 1,100 snaps in each of his first three seasons with the team.