Packers: Brett Hundley has golden opportunity after Aaron Rodgers injury
With Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers potentially out for the remainder of the season, backup Brett Hundley has a green and golden opportunity.
Hundley’s regular season snaps have been few and far between since arriving in Green Bay over two years ago. But with Rodgers sidelined indefinitely, the Packers offense is in his hands.
Take advantage, and Hundley could be a top target for quarterback-needy teams next year. The Packers have been open to trading him in the past. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the team came close to trading Hundley during last April’s draft.
It’s lucky they didn’t, because the Packers need him now. If Hundley puts together a strong body of work in the coming weeks and months, his stock could rise dramatically. That would bode well for the Packers next offseason, too, should they trade him away for assets.
On the flip side, if Hundley struggles and the team loses week in week out, the tumbleweed may begin to roll once March arrives.
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While the team is still reeling from Rodgers’ injury Sunday afternoon in Minnesota, the season keeps on moving and the Packers need to get ready for New Orleans. For Hundley, this is the biggest opportunity of his career. The next few months could be a launching pad for his NFL career.
It’s also a critical time for the Packers’ season. If Hundley can help the team beat the Saints next Sunday, Green Bay will enter its bye week at 5-2 and, record wise, in a good position.
To have a shot at reaching the playoffs, the target needs to be 10-6. Assuming Hundley starts all of the Packers’ remaining 10 regular season games, he’d need to help the team go 6-4 during that span. It’s a tall order, but if Hundley can pull it off, he’ll be the talk of the offseason.
Jimmy Garoppolo used a Tom Brady suspension to show the world what he could do. In two starts last season, Garoppolo threw for 496 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. The Patriots won both games.
Hundley will need the help of his teammates. He’ll have to lean on Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones to produce on the ground. His beaten up offensive line needs to protect him. Dom Capers’ defense has to make enough stops.
But the rest is on Hundley.
On a personal note the third-year passer will be as deflated as the rest of us about Rodgers’ injury. But from a career perspective, Hundley has been handed a golden opportunity.
Upcoming bye week comes at ideal time
Next week Green Bay gets New Orleans at home. But after that comes a timely bye. The week off will give head coach Mike McCarthy time to readjust his gameplan moving forward. He’ll be able to make changes to the offense to better suit Hundley. It will also give the Packers a chance to get healthier across the board.
Unlike in 2013, when Rodgers last suffered a broken collarbone, the team’s bye week comes after his injury, not before. That’s one positive to take away.
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The Saints will enter Lambeau Field as favorites. If the Packers can come away with anything it will be a bonus. The key will be to avoid any more significant injuries and get to the bye week, where they’ll have time to regroup.