As part of a recent media availability session, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers commented on the possibility of playing Thursday night's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers without three of his top running backs.
Three of Green Bay's best backs are sidelined for different reasons. Rookie A.J. Dillon tested positive for COVID-19 after playing in Sunday's 28-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and has been subsequently placed on the reserve list. Backup Jamaal Williams is out after being in close contact with his teammate, while Aaron Jones is dealing with a calf injury, which limited him to walk-throughs during Tuesday's practice.
If all three backs are ruled out, the Packers could be looking at a starting backfield consisting of Tyler Ervin and Dexter Williams.
Rodgers is hoping his guys will be available, but he is mindful of the potential challenge:
“I think as a competitor you're always excited about the challenges,” Rodgers said., via the team's official website. “You'd love having your guys in there at full strength, for sure, but there is that fun challenge of going in there without some of those guys and trying to find a way to win.”
Rodgers went on to add that he is open to the idea of moving personnel around to fill the team's needs:
“I don't feel like we're ever hamstringed necessarily based on some of the things that we've done,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “We've had to mix some personnels up and move some guys around to try and get our best guys on the field and give us some advantages through the use of personnel. That's not going to change.
“I think that's the beauty in what (coach) Matt (LaFleur) and the offensive staff has done this year is finding creative ways to get our best guys on the field and put them in positions to get the ball in space; no different this week.”
Green Bay isn't the only team dealing with injuries ahead of this matchup. The 49ers will be without several key players as well. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been placed on the injured reserve list with a high ankle sprain, while wide receiver Deebo Samuel has already been ruled out due to a hamstring. San Francisco will also be without running back Raheem Mostert, as he has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain.
Thursday night's Packers-49ers game is set to kick-off at 8:20 p.m. ET, with FOX having live broadcast coverage.
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