The Green Bay Packers went 2-1 in the 2024 NFL preseason games, and that’s with head coach Matt LaFleur deciding against playing his starters. Some believe that the lack of preseason action for the starters contributed to the loss suffered by the team in Brazil at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles back in Week 1.
Matt LaFleur Explains Why Green Bay Packers Did Not Play Starters in Preseason
But LaFleur explained his decision, saying it was all about preventing injuries.
Via Ryan Wood of Green Bay Press-Gazette:
“I think that’s one of the things you always battle as a coach, especially when you have a new system. Do you put the guys at risk — at more risk? There’s always obviously a risk, whether it’s the practice or the game. You’ve just got to make a gut decision on it. Hindsight is always going to be 20/20, but the unknown. You’re never going to know.
If you go out there and somebody gets dinged up, and you miss them for a significant amount of time, it’s just one of those things. The trend around the league for most teams now is to rest your guys. I’d say it’s similar for a lot of teams. Some teams do choose to play their guys, but we did not.”
LaFleur and the Packers have the preseason behind them now, as they look forward to a Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts for their home opener in the 2024 NFL regular season. Green Bay has a big question mark at the quarterback position heading into that contest. While Malik Willis has already been declared the starter for the Colts game, there is so much unknown about him. But he’ll get his chance to enlighten the Packers and Green Bay’s fans about what he can do come Sunday.
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