6 Packers players have a lot to prove in regular season finale vs. the Vikings even if the game means nothing for playoff seeding
Green Bay goes to Minnesota without much to play for in Week 18.
The Green Bay Packers are locked in with the seventh seed. They have clinched a playoff spot, but can’t win the NFC North or get a better seeding anymore, so the Minnesota Vikings game in Week 18 is basically meaningless.
Basically because it still matters individually for some players — and as a consequence, for the short- and long-term future of the franchise. For six players in particular, the opportunity to get more snaps if the Packers rest key players could be huge.
Jordan Morgan
Morgan started the past two games at right tackle and was solid, especially against the Ravens. He allowed only one pressure and was the highest-graded lineman on the Packers both in pass block and run game. A meaningless game would be the perfect opportunity for Green Bay to test Morgan at left tackle, his original position.
When Zach Tom is back for the playoffs, Morgan would go back to the bench. But if he plays well against a challenging Vikings’ defense, there’s an argument for him to start at LT instead of Rasheed Walker. More than that, it’s valuable to have some left tackle exposure in the regular season before potentially taking over the position next year, since Walker is set to be a free agent.
Matthew Golden
Golden has 104 total receiving yards in his past seven games combined, 353 in the regular season. It’s certainly not the rookie year Packers fans expected when the team drafted a first-round wide receiver for the first time in 23 years.
The Packers usually let young players develop, so the lack of early production doesn’t necessarily mean Golden can’t eventually become a great wide receiver.
It’s unclear which receivers will or will not play on Sunday, but it’s fair to expect some to sit — especially Christian Watson, who tore his ACL in Week 18 last year, and Dontayvion Wicks, who suffered a concussion versus the Ravens. That will allow Golden to have more snaps and a higher target share, a big opportunity for the rookie to show his value.
Emanuel Wilson
Josh Jacobs is one of the most likely pieces to sit in Week 18 to recover from his knee injury. While Chris Brooks was the running back with the most snaps in Week 17, Wilson should be the starter versus the Vikings because he’s the best pure runner, and he proved it in the first Vikings game.
The backup running back is set to become a restricted free agent, and this may be his final big opportunity to convince the Packers to give him an RFA tender.
Malik Willis
Willis is dealing with a shoulder injury, so he might not play — in this case, third-stringer Clayton Tune would probably start. But if Willis is healthy enough, it’s his last opportunity to increase his value heading into free agency.
The backup quarterback has been amazing since the Packers acquired him from the Tennessee Titans, and his performance versus the Ravens even with a pass-heavy gameplan showed he can be a capable starter and deserves another opportunity.
Young edge rushers
Fourth-rounder Barryn Sorrell hasn’t played much in the past few weeks, and fifth-rounder Collin Oliver is yet to make his NFL debut after spending most of his rookie season on PUP. Without Micah Parsons and potentially resting guys like Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness, Sorrell and Oliver should get more playing time and have the chance to show what they can do as rotational pieces down the road. It’s also a big game for Brenton Cox Jr., who’s slated to become a restricted free agent.
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