Morgan Rode sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not take a snap during the team’s 31-17 preseason win over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night, but a trio of other Packers quarterbacks shined in their time under the Lambeau Field lights.
Rodgers’ backups, a trio of Brett Hundley, DeShone Kizer and Tim Boyle combined to throw for 356 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with 11 different receivers.
Hundley started the game, and after Tennessee starter Marcus Mariota tossed a touchdown, led Green Bay on a 7-play, 75-yard opening drive to knot the score at seven. Hundley connected on 9-yard passes to Devante Adams and Geronimo Allison before hitting Adams on a perfectly placed 48-yard pass down the left sideline to the Titans’ 3-yard line.
After a penalty, Hundley found Jamaal Williams open to his left before Williams made a move and dove into the endzone for the score. Hundley finished the night completing 9 of 14 passes for 108 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Hundley was hit from behind on his interception.
The lone other score of the first half was a 23-yard field goal by the Titans’ Ryan Succop early in the second quarter.
Kizer led the Packers on a 14-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. Joel Bouagnon capped the drive with a 1-yard rushing score. Kizer found rookie wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling three times on the drive, including a 51-yard reception.
Green Bay added to its lead on a 41-yard field goal by Mason Crosby early in the fourth quarter before Boyle led the Packers on two late touchdown drives. Boyle found Valdes-Scantling in the back of the endzone for one of the scores before delivering a 52-yard dime to Jake Kumerow, a former player for UW-Whitewater.
Kizer finished the night completing 9 of 18 passes for 134 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. Boyle tossed two touchdowns while throwing no interceptions, completing 7 of 15 passes for 130 yards.
Valdes-Scantling caught five passes for 101 yards and the touchdown while Kumerow caught three passes for 76 yards and his score. Rookie Equanimeous St. Brown tallied four receptions for 61 yards while Adams caught two passes for 57 yards.
“First NFL game and it was definitely a good feeling,” Valdes-Scantling said of his big game. “Live it out for the rest of the night and then get ready for next week.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the team forced one turnover while playing a pretty basic scheme. Rookies Oren Burks, who led the team with six total tackles, and Josh Jackson each saw plenty of time on the field.
“It felt awesome to just get out there and get the first one under my belt,” Burks said. “First NFL snaps, that’s a dream come true and something I have been thinking about for a long time.”
“I was just trying to go out there and do my job, not do too much, not trying to overdo anything,” Jackson said. “It’s just about growing from there. Look at the film, learn from my mistakes, see what I can do better and improve next week.”
The Packers continue the preseason next Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Lambeau Field.
HALFTIME PERFORMERS
Shawano’s Crede Timm, Brayden Dickelman and Kobe Schreiber competed in the QB/WR Halftime Challenge.