There is a real chance that the Green Bay Packers won’t punt at all this coming Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Punter Corey Bojorquez joined the COVID/Reserve list on Tuesday, but actually tested positive on Monday. There is a chance that the Packers will have their punter on Sunday, but he would have to have two negative tests or be cleared by the team doctor. However, there is also a chance he won’t be there.
He could join more than 10 players who will possibly not be able to play against the Vikings. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was just cleared to return, but they still might be without players like Kingsley Keke, Henry Black, Tyler Davis, Oren Burks, Marcedes Lewis, Amari Rodgers, Kevin King, Ben Braden, and several others.
Losing Bojorquez, even for one game, doesn’t help when the Packers’ special teams have been awful this year. Bojorquez is 11th in average punting yards, eighth in hang-time, and landed 24 of his 50 punts inside the 20.
So that leaves Green Bay with a couple of options. Can they find a possible replacement punter if needed? If they can’t, will they go into Sunday Night with the strategy to just not punt at all?
Can They Get a Temp?
Yes and no. Obviously, it wouldn’t be easy to bring in a new punter, have him practice, clear protocols, and be comfortable for Sunday Night. It also appears that a punter the Packers released earlier this year might be available if truly needed.
That is an option Green Bay can look into. You have a punter who was just released and has already been around the team. If Bojorquez can’t go, he should be on stand-by or be signed if needed.
J.K. Scott, the Packers’ punter last year, is also still a free agent. Maurice Drayton, the Packers’ special teams coordinator, has also said they do already have an emergency punter option in the past. Would that be Mason Crosby? Someone else on the roster? Hopefully, we won’t have to find out.
Maybe Just Don’t Punt
The Packers have multiple options for Sunday if Bojorquez isn’t cleared. But they can also just choose not to punt. They will have someone delegated to be the emergency punter, but that doesn’t mean they have to use them.
So far this year, the Packers are 12 for 19 on fourth-down conversations. At a 63% conversation rate, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go for it on fourth down almost every play. The Packers have scored at least 24 points the past five games, and Aaron Rodgers just won NFC Offensive Player of the Month for December. It was the 10th time he had been given that honor. He’s making a strong case for back-to-back MVP awards. Green Bay’s offense is scoring points, and there are plenty of people out there who would rather see the team go for it in most situations than punt.
If the team is on their own 10-yard line or in a bad position, maybe go ahead and punt. But besides that, it would make sense for the Packers to go for it against the Vikings. At 63%, that is more than a coin flip and pretty good odds you should be able to convert.
If Minnesota sweeps Green Bay this season, that would basically be the Super Bowl for Vikings fans. So let’s not have that happen. Without a punter and with an offense that is rolling, it wouldn’t hurt to just not punt during Week 17. Bragging rights and trash talk alone, it’s a fun idea.
Making A Statement
The statement of not punting and leaving Lambeau with a win would be great for the Packers. Green Bay will be cold on Sunday Night, and that will definitely help the Green and Gold. The Vikings are used to playing indoors in a stadium that probably kills way too many birds. It’s a lot different in the Frozen Tundra. Plus, Minnesota is down one of their best receivers in Adam Thielen. Which is fine; Thielen has complained about Lambeau on multiple occasions, so he can enjoy not playing in an iconic location.
While it’s not ideal for the Packers, it could be a fun moment to possibly not have a punter. Special teams is a huge problem for the Packers right now anyway. So maybe not punting for a game and having the offense and defense do a little extra work wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Chances are, Bojorquez will clear protocols, and everything will be fine. But I also secretly hope Green Bay’s emergency punter is A.J. Dillon. Use those calves and crush that ball downfield.
