“I love it. I really do.”
Aaron Rodgers spoke from the heart during Tuesday’s press conference while discussing the team’s recent veteran additions. In the last year, the Green Bay Packers have acquired five veteran players who have played significant roles during the first seven games of the 2021 season.
“You love when you can plug in veteran players who can play football at a high level in those spots,” Rodgers added.
Of course, the guys Rodgers is referring to are De’Vondre Campbell, Randall Cobb, Jaylon Smith, Rasul Douglas and Whitney Mercilus.
Campbell and Cobb have been with the team since the start of the regular season, while Smith, Douglas and Mercilus were all signed within the last few weeks. However, all five seem to be adjusting nicely to their new roles on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
“I love the energy with these guys,” said Rodgers.
No one has brought more energy than Campbell, who Rodgers has continued to praise in recent weeks. Rodgers couldn’t believe the Packers were able to land the savvy linebacker when they did. Campbell was an afterthought for most NFL teams until Green Bay signed him to a one-year deal in June. Now, he is the team’s leading tackler and the highest graded linebacker by Pro Football Focus.
Smith was added after he was released by the Dallas Cowboys. He’s played 27 snaps at linebacker over the last two games.
Douglas was signed off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on October 6. He played a bulk of the snaps during the Packers’ Week 6 win over the Chicago Bears. Last week, Douglas started the game at corner and finished the game after leaving for a brief period with a shoulder injury. His toughness has been a welcomed addition in the absence of Jaire Alexander and Kevin King.
Meanwhile, Green Bay’s edge position was growing thin before the team signed Mercilus following his release from the Houston Texans only a week ago. With Preston Smith dealing with an injured oblique and Za’Darius Smith still on injured reserve, the Packers needed a veteran to sure up their edge rushers. Mercilus has totaled 57 sacks during his 10 NFL seasons and went on to provide a nice boost to the team’s pass rush in Week 7. Even though he did not have a sack against the Washington Football Team, Mercilus did create four pressures in 31 snaps.
Finally, there is Cobb. The 31-year-old receiver hasn’t done much in Matt LaFleur’s offense, but his value to the team is immeasurable. Without Cobb, Rodgers may not even be in Green Bay. The two built a strong connection during their first eight seasons with the Packers, and Rodgers expressed a strong belief that the offense would benefit from a true slot receiver.
Through the first seven games, Cobb has 14 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. These numbers pale in comparison to his career totals, but that is the price you pay when you’re an aging receiver with a long list of injuries.
However, no one is happier to have Cobb back in the mix than Rodgers, and no one is happier to be back where it all started than the receiver himself.
With Green Bay starting to get healthier and key guys returning to practice, having veterans they can lean on will help this team be more resilient and continue to rack up wins. The Packers probably aren’t sitting at 6-1 if not for their impactful veteran additions.