10/27/23 Hometown Broadcasting Sports Thursday
26 October 2023 Sports
Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes’ comeback from a foot issue that sidelined him for nearly a year lasted only four plays before he got knocked out for multiple weeks again.
Stokes went back on injured reserve Wednesday after hurting his left hamstring three days earlier in a 19-17 loss at Denver. The 2021 first-round pick from Georgia was playing his first game since injuring his right knee and foot last November in a 15-6 loss at Detroit.
He’s joined on injured reserve by safety Darnell Savage, the latest setbacks for a Packers secondary struggling with depth issues because its top players can’t stay healthy. Savage suffered a calf injury in the Broncos game.
“In Denver, I was down the whole time and all that stuff,” said Stokes, who was on the field for only four special teams snaps. “But the moment we landed back here, it was time to man up and just go ahead and face reality. It is what it is. In Denver, I was like saying, ‘Why me? Why all this?’ and all that stuff. But the moment I got back here, it is what it is. It’s time to move forward. It’s time to focus on going ahead and getting back to the grind.”
Packers coach Matt LaFleur expressed confidence that both players should play again at some point this season. The injured reserve designation means both Stokes and Savage must miss at least Green Bay’s next four games and couldn’t return until at least a Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit.
The Packers attempted to boost their secondary by signing Corey Ballentine to the active roster from their practice squad and signing cornerback Robert Rochell off the Carolina Panthers practice squad. They also signed cornerback Zyon Gilbert to their practice squad.
Ballentine played in Green Bay’s final eight games last season and had appeared in three games this season. Rochell played 28 games and made five starts for the Los Angeles Rams from 2021-22. Rochell said he should be able to make a smooth transition because the Packers and Rams have such similar approaches on defense.
Green Bay (2-4) has needed to lean heavily on its defense because its young offense has struggled through growing pains and hasn’t scored a first-half touchdown in any of the Packers’ past four games.
But the injuries to Green Bay’s secondary have made it tough for that defense to play up to its capabilities. The Packers have just five takeaways to match the lowest total for any team.
The Packers starting safety combination for Sunday’s game with the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) likely will include Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens.
Ford has started each of Green Bay’s first six games this season and has two interceptions. Owens, who started all 17 games for the Houston Texans last season, played a season-high 32 defensive snaps at Denver but had a holding penalty on a third down incompletion during the Broncos lone touchdown drive.
On Wednesday running back Aaron Jones, tight end Luke Musgrave and center/guard Josh Meyers did not participate.
Meanwhile the Vikings defense likes to put a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback and Jordan Love is preparing for that possibility Sunday. On top of that, Green Bay’s offense has gotten off to a slow start and have been outscored 63-6 in their last four games.
One way for defenses to create more mistakes, forces offenses to make quicker decisions. That’s certainly a goal of the Vikings under Brian Flores.
“Sometimes it’s going to look like a punt rush. So, you’ve got to have a plan for that, and go out there and execute that plan,” said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
This season, the Vikings blitz rate is above 57%, the highest in the league and on historic pace to be the highest in NFL history. Love is ranked 29th in the league when it comes to completion percentage against the blitz.
Coach Matt LaFleur once again expressed confidence in his first year starting QB on Wednesday. This after another late interception in a Packers road loss, this time on a deep ball to Samori Toure in the final minutes against Denver.
In Thursday Night Football Buffalo (4-3) is at Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers (3-3).
According to a report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the New York Mets have received permission to interview Brewers manager Craig Counsell for the same job. Counsell’s contract with the Brewers expires at the end of this month.
The Brewers have made 5 postseason appearances under Counsell, including 3 division titles in the last 6 season. Prior to his arrival in May of 2015, the franchise had 4 postseason appearances in 46 seasons.
Counsell’s former boss in Milwaukee, David Stearns, is the Mets new President of Baseball Operations.
The Bucks open up their NBA season tonight as Milwaukee hosts the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bucks enter the season assured that 2-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpko will be with them for awhile. This week the Antetokounmpo announced he had signed a three-year, $186 million extension rather than waiting until next summer to make his future plans known.
The Bucks also acquired seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard to bolster their offense and Khris Middleton and 7- foot center Brook Lopez also returned.
Tonight’s tipoff is at 6:30.
Dusty Baker has retired as manager of the Houston Astros . He told USA Today on Wednesday, ending an illustrious 26-year career as a big league skipper highlighted by a World Series win last season.
Baker’s decision comes two days after the Astros lost to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
A news conference is scheduled for Thursday.
The 74-year old player spent 19 seasons in the Majors.
The Wautoma Hornets had a number of athletes achieving all-conference honors for the fall season.
Volleyball
1st Team Unanimous Bri Buechner
1st Team Montana Groskreutz
2nd team Allison Botters
2nd team Maddi Meyers
Football
Offense: 1st Team Unanimous Offensive Guard Peter Idsvoog 2nd Team Running Back Skyler Royston Honorable Mention Offensive Line Trey Reilly Defense: 1st Team Defensive Line Peter Idsvoog 2nd Team Defensive End Landon Keller 2nd Team Inside Linebacker Jimmy Helf Honorable Mention Defensive Back Graham Vissers
Soccer
2nd Team Ben Miller 2nd Team Pedro Lopez Honorable Mention Sebastian Poulsen.
Photo: Crowd at Ripon College Red Hawks grand opening for Hopp Stadium.
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