Welcome to the weekly Zone Coverage Packers mailbag, where I try to answer all your burning NFL and Green Bay Packers-related questions, submitted via Twitter to @m_widmeier.
Will the Packers go sign a running back after the injury to Aaron Jones?
I lean towards no on this only because it’s an MCL sprain that isn’t expected to sideline Jones for too long.
If this was a significant injury, potentially a season-ending one, all expectations would be that Green Bay would look over the free-agent market to see what’s available. In that case, they would likely ink someone to a deal. Keep in mind that rookie running back Kylin Hill is out for the year already with a torn ACL.
All indications are that the Packers will feature A.J. Dillon in the absence of Jones, who was a bell-cow back during his days at Boston College. Dillon should get the rock early and often starting this weekend against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones could be back two weeks from now against the Los Angeles Rams, or the Packers could opt to hold him out for another week, which would stretch into the bye and allow Jones more than enough time to recover. Whichever route they take, I doubt they sign a free-agent running back given that Jones should return in short order.
Are the Packers now the best team in the NFL?
All of this is obviously subjective but they have as good a case as anyone to carry the torch. The issue is that the NFL is truly a week-by-week league.
Two weeks ago the Rams were being crowned as nearly unstoppable. Back-to-back losses to the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers have nixed that idea.
Many believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will once again emerge from the NFC and get to the Super Bowl. Back-to-back losses to the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Football Team have some souring on that idea too. They will be just fine though.
Meanwhile, Green Bay just keeps riding the wave at 8-2. The surprisingly stout defense could push the Packers over the top. The Packers have always leaned on Aaron Rodgers to run up the score, but this year it’s been all about keeping the opponent off the board.
Green Bay absolutely has a case at the moment to be deemed the best team in the NFL.
What is going on with Mason Crosby?
Another dud on Sunday from short range now has Mason Crosby sitting with seven missed field goals on the year. He rebounded to make his final field goal attempt and also punched home two extra points, but there are concerns.
Two weeks ago there was a miss where the laces weren’t completely turned out, plus a blocked kick, so obviously, not all of it was on Crosby. Still, those miscues can have a mental impact on a kicker.
Crosby has been so dang good for so long, the hope is that this is just a hiccup and that things will turn around for the stretch run of the season. The field goal operation cannot be out of whack going into the postseason.
The seven misses are alarming, but Crosby has shown before that he’s able to have amnesia when it comes to occasional dry spells. Fingers crossed that will once again be the case.
How big is the loss of Whitney Mercilus?
Mercilus was just starting to settle in and even picked up a huge sack against Russell Wilson. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn biceps and will miss the remainder of the season.
While Mercilus wasn’t serving as a savior for the defense, he brought much-needed depth to a thin area on the defense and was productive.
We all know Za’Darius Smith is out and may or may not be back this year. Rashan Gary suffered an injury of his own against the Seattle Seahawks when he hyperextended his elbow. That’s two edge rushers getting banged up in one game at a spot where they could least afford it. It’s left Preston Smith looking around an empty room. However, Gary intends to try and play this weekend against the Minnesota Vikings.
Mercilus’ season-ending injury will be felt most in the area of depth, as he was spelling Smith and Gary over the last couple of weeks. Now more than ever, Green Bay will desperately cling to the hopes that Za’Darius Smith returns this year and that all goes according to plan with Gary trying to play through his own injury.
Green Bay’s defense seems to keep finding ways to succeed despite the injuries continuing to pile up.
Submit your questions to the next mailbag via Twitter to @m_widmeier.
