Packers coach Matt LaFleur isn’t changing his view of Josh Jacobs, even after the incident involving the running back. LaFleur said he knows Jacobs well enough to trust who he is away from the field.
“Well, yeah, because I know the guy, and I know the character of the guy, so I’ve said it many times,” LaFleur told reporters, via Pro Football Talk. “And unfortunately, situations occur in life and it’s just an unfortunate situation.”
When asked about whether Jacobs would remain on the roster, LaFleur didn’t bite.
“Yeah, I’m not, guys - I’m not gonna get into any of this until the league completes their investigation,” LaFleur added when asked about keeping Jacobs on the roster.
Aaron Rodgers also had Green Bay on his mind in a recent interview, and he didn’t sound closed off to the idea of a warm reception if he ever goes back as a retired player. The Steelers quarterback said enough time could soften things, though he acknowledged not everyone in the building would feel the same way.
“I think there’s some people that have a lot of affection for me, and I would assume we’re talking four or five years from now that there will be fans who still have appreciation for what I’ve done, especially after so much time has passed,” Rodgers told ESPN Milwaukee/Madison. “I think there’s certain people in the building who wouldn’t be totally on board, and maybe I wouldn’t be on board if they were still there as well.”
Rodgers also pointed to how the split unfolded, saying he believes some of the friction could have been avoided. He said the Packers general manager wanted him out, and he felt the organization was simply waiting for the first season that fell short of his MVP standard.
“There’s definitely some things I could’ve done to make those guys a little more comfortable I guess, but the GM wanted me out of there, so it was only a matter of time,” Rodgers added. “They were just looking for one non-MVP season and that was going to be that.
Didn’t understand it. Didn’t necessarily agree with it.
I just didn’t like the way it was handled, and obviously I could have probably handled it better. But on the flip side, it probably made it a little easier on Jordan.
I loved my time there. And I didn’t let the ending skew any of the good times that we had and how much I enjoyed playing there and playing at Lambeau and being around so many great people over the years.”
Elsewhere in the NFC, Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray opened up about the edge that drives him as he prepares to return as the team’s Week 1 starter. Murray said competitiveness has always been at the center of who he is, and he’s still chasing his “Green Light,” a nod to The Great Gatsby.
“It’s my whole life,” Murray said, via The Athletic. “That’s who I am.
I can’t change it about myself. My earliest memories as a family, we’re always competing in something.
I always competed in anything I played, whether it was Connect 4, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, all of them.”
In Other News...
Kyler Murrays Vikings Debut Just Took A Frightening Turn
Kyler Murrays first appearance in a Vikings uniform took a harsh turn before it could really settle into a rhythm. The quarterback was struck helmet-to-helmet by Packers safety Javon Bullard, a hit that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty and quickly changed the feel of the game for Minnesota, especially with Murray then forced to leave and backup Carson Wentz stepping in.
For a team still trying to build any momentum around its new quarterback, the sight of Murray heading to the sideline was the biggest storyline of the day. Medical expert David J. Chao said the footage showed neurological signs consistent with a concussion, leaving the Vikings to sort through a debut that was supposed to answer questions and instead raised a much more unsettling one. [Read more 🡒]
Kyler Murrays First Vikings Snap Was Already Hard To Ignore
Kyler Murray arrived in Minnesota with plenty to prove, and he wasted no time making his presence felt in a quarterback battle that had been watched closely all summer. After signing a one-year deal following his release from Arizona, Murray went head-to-head with J.J. McCarthy in training camp and eventually earned the Week 1 nod from coach Kevin OConnell, a decision that signaled a fresh start for both player and team.
What makes Murrays fit more interesting is how openly he has embraced the Vikings as more than just his next stop. He has talked about strong personal ties to the franchise and the chance to reinvent his NFL career in Minnesota, which gives his first snaps an added layer of meaning beyond the usual camp competition. For a team looking to settle its quarterback picture, the early signs around Murray are already hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Backup Decision Just Changed Everything In Green Bay
Kevin OConnells backup quarterback choice suddenly mattered a whole lot more once Kyler Murray locked in the starting job, and for the Vikings it put Carson Wentz in the spotlight as the No. 2 behind him instead of J.J. McCarthy. The move looked like a depth-chart decision on paper, but it became the kind of call that shapes a game when Wentz was pressed into action early in the season opener against the Packers.
Wentz responded by helping turn a difficult start into a 39-22 comeback win in Green Bay, settling in quickly and finding Justin Jefferson for multiple scores. He finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns, a performance that did more than steady the Vikings for one afternoon. It also gave Minnesota a backup situation that now looks a lot more consequential than it did when camp ended. [Read more 🡒]