Things are looking gloomy in Green Bay.Mike McCarthy has been fired Jace Sternberger Green Bay Packer , Aaron Rodgers looks disinterested and the Packers are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.But as a season filled with turmoil and disappointment winds down, the Green Bay Packers saw a glimmer of hope on Sunday. It was the NFL debut of Jake Kumerow, the Wisconsin-Whitewater product who won the hearts of Packers fans in the preseason.Kumerow played just five offensive snaps in his debut (as well as 14 on special teams), but quarterback Aaron Rodgers targeted him twice. The 26-year-old receiver caught an 11-yard reception to move the chains on Green Bay’s game-tying drive in the fourth quarter.Kumerow hurt his shoulder in the preseason after leading the team with 190 receiving yards and two scores in the first two exhibition contests. He was placed on injured reserve in early September, and the Packers utilized one of their two return designations to bring him back.<em>Other notes from Sunday’s snap counts:</em>— A season-high 20 different players saw action on offense against Arizona.— Bryan Bulaga played 21 snaps before leaving the game with a knee injury. Jason Spriggs filled in for Bulaga and was at right tackle for the final 55 plays.— Jamaal Williams hadn’t played more than 14 snaps since Week 9 against New England, but he was on the field for 38 snaps on Sunday, just one fewer than featured back Aaron Jones. In typical Williams fashion, he carried the ball seven times for 13 yards.— Jimmy Graham caught a season-high eight passes while playing in 71 percent of the offensive snaps.— Randall Cobb returned after missing three games and had 61 snaps (80 percent). He was targeted five times and had three catches for 25 yards.— Safety Eddie Pleasant made his Packers debut and played on 11 defensive snaps (18 percent) and recorded one tackle. His dropped potential interception would be a key play in the loss.— Defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster played in a season-high 35 snaps (56 percent). He finished three tackles.OFFENSEPLAYERPlays (76)%Bakhtiari76100%Taylor76100%Linsley76100%Rodgers76100%Adams7295%Valdes-Scantling6484%McCray6383%Cobb6180%Spriggs5572%Graham5471%Jones3951%J. Williams3850%Bulaga2128%St. Brown1520%Bell1317%Kendricks1216%Tonyan912%Lewis811%Kumerow57%Vitale34%DEFENSEPLAYERPlays (62)%Alexander62100%Martinez62100%T. Williams62100%J. Jackson6198%Lowry5995%Clark5894%Fackrell5792%Jones4877%Campbell4674%Matthews4369%Lancaster3556%Gilbert2540%Morrison2540%M. Adams1524%Pleasant1118%Brown915%Burks35% Over two weeks Jace Sternberger Jersey 2019 , Acme Packing Company will break down the Green Bay Packers’ 2018 roster position-by-position, providing our grades for each spot and looking ahead to free agency. Today, we continue with the outside linebackers.If not for Kyler Fackrell, the Packers’ outside linebackers would not have earned a “C-” grade from Acme Packing Company this morning. Fackrell led the way with 10.5 of Green Bay’s 44 sacks on the season and notched seven more than any other Packer edge rusher. With such little pass rushing impact from the outside, including from high-priced Nick Perry, the unit is expected to receive a facelift this offseason in the form of young potential. In the midst of acquiring new talent, Green Bay must determine the best course of action for two of their free agents within the organization. An aging former superstar and a young underperformer in 2018 make up that list from the outside linebacker position.Clay MatthewsNFL Experience: 10 yearsFA Status: UnrestrictedExpiring Contract: 5-year, $66 million contract with $20.5 million signing bonus2018 Stats: 16 games played Jace Sternberger Jersey Mens , 16 games started; 43 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumbleWhether the Packers choose to re-up Matthews’ contract or not, the franchise will be forever grateful for the six-time Pro Bowler’s career in Green Bay. No longer the double-digit sack artist he was in 2014, Matthews’ age, size Youth Jace Sternberger Jersey , and durability have contributed to a statistical decline over the past three seasons. At this point, he would be best-suited for a situational rushing role in 2019.A bit healthier during the 2018 campaign than in previous seasons, Matthews’ presence was noticeable at times even though he was not recording the sacks he once did. Under Mike Pettine, Matthews was lined up in a variety of ways and is still a high-energy defensive player. After an early-season struggle with aggressive penalties, Matthews cut down on those personal foul penalties as the season went on.There is a chance that Green Bay could offer a short-term hometown discount to the green and gold legend while it accumulates younger players to groom. A veteran leader presence would be beneficial to those prospective players and Matthews may still have a role in Green Bay, though expectations on the field must be tempered. At age 32, it is hard to see Matthews being offered more than a two-year contract from another team and that could play to the Packers’ favor.Reggie GilbertNFL Experience: 2 yearsFA Status: Exclusive RightsExpiring Contract: 2-year, $990 White Jace Sternberger Jersey ,000 contract2018 Stats: 16 games played, 0 starts; 38 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 8 quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, 1 fumble recoveryAfter a preseason in which he was constantly in the offensive backfield and became a 53-man roster lock, the second-year Gilbert struggled to make an impact during the regular season.With the Packers desperately hoping for growth from Gilbert after choosing not to add extra pass rushing in the offseason, the former Arizona Wildcat failed to assert himself. With a new position coach http://www.packerslockerroom.com/authentic-brett-hundley-jersey , perhaps Gilbert can tap into his potential a bit more in 2019, but that would require Green Bay to make a commitment to the exclusive rights free agent. A golden opportunity was missed for Gilbert to solidify a spot in Green Bay moving forward and with an influx of edge rushing talent expected this spring, that spot is not as safe as it once was. Gilbert figures to be a cheaper depth option for the Packers to consider.
