Packers place RB AJ Dillon on reserve/COVID-19 list
The Green Bay Packers placed running back AJ Dillon on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday after he reportedly tested positive for the virus.
https://twitter.com/packers/status/1323311551357415424
As first reported by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the positive result came from a test taken prior to Sunday's game against Minnesota. Dillon carried five times for 21 yards and also had one catch in the loss.
Dillon will not play Thursday against San Francisco and it's possible others won't either. Linebacker Kamal Martin and running back Jamaal Williams were late adds to the injury report and listed as not injury related. According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, the duo is considered close contacts of Dillon, and the NFL is evaluating whether they are high-risk close contacts. If it's determined they are, the two players will have to be put on the reserve/COVID-19 list, quarantine for five days and miss the 49ers game.
The Packers were already without Aaron Jones against the Vikings due to a calf injury, and his status for the 49ers game is uncertain. If he can’t go, and Williams can't either, it will leave Tyler Ervin as the lone healthy running back on the roster, though they could bring Dexter Williams up from the practice squad.
This is the first positive test the team has experienced since after the initial intake period at training camp in the middle of August.
The state of Wisconsin remains a hotspot for the virus. As of Sunday, the seven-day average of tests coming back positive was 29.5%, which was the highest number in the country. More than 228,863 people in the state have tested positive for the virus, including 3,493 new positive tests on Sunday. The deaths of 2,047 people have been attributed to the virus since the pandemic began in March.
Vikings 28, Packers 22: 2-minute drill
Green Bay allowed Dalvin Cook to score four touchdowns and fell 28-22 to Minnesota at a windy Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon.
Game Balls
Offense: RB Dalvin Cook
The Pro Bowl running back went off against the Packers defense. Cook finished as the leading rusher and receiver for the Vikings, accounting for 163 yards on the ground and 63 yards on two catches. He became the first player to amass 200-plus total yards and score four touchdowns in a game at Lambeau Field. His 226 yards accounted for 69.8% of the Vikings offense on Sunday. In five career games against Green Bay, Cook is averaging 126.2 yards per contest and he’s scored eight touchdowns.
Defense: LB Eric Kendricks
With the wind a huge factor in the game, the Vikings had to stop the run and it started with Kendricks. He finished with a team-high 12 tackles and limited Green Bay to 109 yards on the ground, with much of that came in the first half. After halftime, Kendricks showed off his coverage skills, staying with wide receiver Davante Adams down the middle of the field. Without his coverage, Adams likely catches the pass and goes in for a touchdown that would have tied the game.
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In Case You Missed It
— Left tackle David Bakhtiari, running back Aaron Jones and cornerback Kevin King were among the Packers that were not active due to injury.
— Minnesota cornerback Cam Dantzler was injured in the first quarter and was taken off the field on a stretcher. The team said he had a neck injury and was also being evaluated for a concussion.
https://twitter.com/Vikings/status/1322986427332857856
— The loss was Matt LaFleur’s first against an NFC North team. He had started 8-0.
— It was among the windiest days in Aaron Rodgers’ career. There were consistent winds of 25 miles per hour and gusts nearing 40 miles per hour. Rodgers said it was among the three worst weather days at Lambeau Field.
Inside the Numbers
https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/1323002726746411008
5 — That’s how many holding penalties the Packers were tagged for. It’s the same number they had all season coming into the game.
14 — That’s how many times Kirk Cousins passed the ball. It’s the second-fewest he’s attempted as a starting quarterback
7 — That’s how many times the Packers have scored a touchdown on their opening drive this season. They are the only team in the NFL to score on every opening drive this year.
3 — That’s how many touchdowns Davante Adams had. It’s his first three-score day in his career and he finished with five TDs against the Vikings this season.
0 -- That's how many turnovers the Packers forced. They have just one turnover in the last four games.
What’s Next
Green Bay (5-2) heads to San Francisco (4-3) to face the 49ers on Thursday night.
COVID-19 outbreak within Wisconsin football program continues to grow
The COVID-19 outbreak within the Wisconsin football program continues to worsen.
Athletic director Barry Alvarez told ESPN’s College GameDay that they now have 22 active virus cases — 12 players and 10 staff members. That’s up from 15 on Thursday.
“We’re still having additions in our cases and that’s something we’ve got to get our arms around and control it,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez added that they will make a decision Tuesday whether or not the game against Purdue on Nov. 7 will be played.
Wisconsin paused all football activities on Wednesday after a total of 12 players and staff members tested positive for the virus. That included head coach Paul Chryst and quarterbacks Graham Mertz and Chase Wolf.
The earliest Wisconsin could resume practice is Wednesday. UW said after consulting with Public Health Madison and Dane County, Chryst will be able to rejoin the team on Thursday if he remains symptom free. It was originally believed he would not be able to return on the day of the Purdue game. The players that have tested positive must sit for a total of 21 days.
The Badgers outbreak isn’t the only concern in the Big Ten. Illinois, Wisconsin’s opponent last week, reported Saturday that two players, including quarterback Brandon Peters, had tested positive.
Packers: RB Aaron Jones out, OT David Bakhtiari questionable for Vikings game
Aaron Jones will miss his second straight game with a calf injury.
The Green Bay Packers ruled the running back out for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. The same goes for cornerback Kevin King, who will miss his third game after having a setback with his quad injury.
“I know they’re doing everything in their power (to get back),” coach Matt LaFleur said. "We want to make sure they are 100 percent before we throw them back out there.”
Those are the only two players that are listed as out for the game, but a total of seven others are considered questionable. That includes tackle David Bakhtiari, who practiced on a limited basis this week after missing the Texans game.
“He did a nice job. Whether or not that’s enough to feel confident to go out there and put his body on the line, we’re not there yet,” LaFleur said. “I don’t know. We’ll give him up to game time to figure that out. Certainly, it’s such a long season, and he’s such an important part of our football team. In order for us to accomplish the goals that I know we all want to accomplish, he’s got to be a part of that. We want to make sure he’s fully healthy before he’s ready to go.”
Kicker Mason Crosby did some work inside the Hutson Center after missing the last two practices with calf and back injuries. Right now, the Packers have a kicker in quarantine — Nick Vogel — as they wait to work him out on Saturday. If Crosby can’t go, the former UAB kicker would almost certainly be signed to the active roster.
“We’ll wait it out and see how (Crosby is) feeling (Saturday),” LaFleur said. “Obviously, then we’re going to have to make a decision pretty quickly.”
Vogel was with the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason after making hitting 19 of his 23 kicks as a senior a year ago, but was cut in late July.
Also listed as questionable is running back and kick returner Tyler Ervin. He hasn’t played the last three weeks with a wrist injury but did practice on a limited basis this week. LaFleur believes he’s close to getting back.
“Certainly we hope to have him out there because he just brings an element to both phases of our team,” LaFleur said of his role on offense and special teams. “He’s a big part of our football team, so certainly we’re excited to hopefully have him back. If he’s ready to go, we’ll put him out there.”
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Wisconsin will meet Louisville in Big Ten/ACC Challenge
We now know the date of two of Wisconsin’s opponents this basketball season.
A couple days after learning the Badgers would face Marquette on Dec. 4 in Milwaukee, it was announced Wisconsin would take on Louisville in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Dec. 9 at the Kohl Center.
https://twitter.com/BadgerMBB/status/1322185489609314306
This will be the first meeting between the Badgers and Cardinals since 1978 and just the second all time. Louisville won that game 73-50.
This time, Wisconsin figures to be favorites. The Badgers return nearly their entire team from a season ago when they won the final eight games of the regular season to claim a share of the Big Ten title. Most publications have them starting inside the top 15 in the country and in many cases inside the top-10.
The Cardinals, coached by former Xavier coach Chris Mack, will have quite the different look than last season when they spent time at No. 1 in the country. Six players that played double-digit numbers are gone and Louisville figures to lean on Radford transfer guard Carlik Jones (20.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists) and sophomore David Johnson this season.
College basketball can get underway as early as Nov. 25, but it remains unclear if the Badgers will play a game on opening night, as their full schedule has not been released.
Packers great, Hall of Fame CB Herb Adderley passes away
Another member of the Vince Lombardi-era Green Bay Packers has died.
Cornerback Herb Adderley passed away Friday at the age of 81.
A first-round pick of the Packers in 1961, Adderley was a part of all five of Green Bay’s world championships in the 1960s, including the first two Super Bowls. A four-time All-Pro, Adderley was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. The HOF also named him to its All-1960s team.
“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Herb Adderley,” Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker said on the Hall’s website. “He was a great player and an even greater man. Herb left an indelible mark on the Game and was respected tremendously by players and personnel across the league.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Herb’s wife, Brenda, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations. The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Herb’s memory.”
After leaving Green Bay following the 1969 season, Adderley would play threw more years in Dallas with the Cowboys, earning another Super Bowl ring.
Adderley was drafted as a running back after rushing for 813 yards and four touchdowns for Michigan State in three years, and adding 519 yards and four scores receiving. But the Packers were set at that spot with future Hall of Famers Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung.
However, an injury in 1961 at defensive back gave Adderley an opportunity on that side of the ball and he shined. Beginning in 1962, he started every game but one at cornerback for the Packers the rest of the decade.
For his career, Adderley intercepted 48 passes, returning seven of them for touchdowns, including three in 1965 alone.
PODCAST: Declined
Nebraska Speaking Out (0:00)
Connor Happer from 93.7 The Ticket (12:43)
Packers Free Agency Targets (22:59)
Ryan Braun's Option Declined (37:48)
Vegas Insider Raphael Esparza (47:12)
Wisconsin adds three more COVID-19 cases, now with 15 since Oct. 24
The total number of active COVID-19 cases inside the Wisconsin football program has reached 16.
UW announced Thursday that three more people — two staff members and one student-athlete — had tested positive for coronavirus. It brought the total to eight staff members and seven players testing positive since Oct. 24, the day after the Badgers beat Illinois 45-7.
From a statement UW sent out:
“Wisconsin Athletics’ focus at the moment is to stop the spread of the virus for the health and safety of the program’s student-athletes and staff. There is no definitive timeline for a return to in-person football activities, but the earliest that could occur is Wednesday, Nov. 4. A return to activity depends upon the success of ongoing mitigation efforts. Head coach Paul Chryst, per CDC and Big Ten guidelines, can return to the team in person following a 10-day isolation period, on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the earliest.
Wisconsin Athletics has secured rooms at a local hotel for football players that have not recorded positive tests in an effort to further separate those who live together and mitigate the spread of the virus. Each of the players in the hotel has his own room and the rooms are all located in the same area of the hotel so as to limit exposure to other hotel guests. These living arrangements will remain in effect as long as Wisconsin Athletics deems it necessary.
Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez, who yesterday referenced taking a PCR test, received his results today and tested negative for COVID-19.
Members of the football program continue to take part in daily testing. Wisconsin Athletics plans to provide further updates on Saturday, Oct. 31.”
Wisconsin shut its facilities for a week beginning Wednesday due to the outbreak of the virus.
The Camp: Oct. 29, 2020
On our second episode of The Camp this week, Zach Heilprin and Jesse Temple talk about Wisconsin's decision to suspend football activities for a week and cancel the Nebraska game, whether the Badgers will play Purdue, the impact the cancelation has on the rest of the season and answer your Twitter questions.
PODCAST: No Contest
Paul Chryst & Barry Alvarez Comments (0:00)
Packers Insider Rob Reischel (17:28)
Packers Talk (32:13)
Sports Director Zach Heilprin (40:55)
Badgers Talk (1:02:37)
