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Packer quarterback of the future
Rodgers, Packers set for debut
Packer fans will be eager to get their first glimpse of Aaron Rodgers in game action, as the 2005 first-round draft pick out of California is believed to be the team's quarterback of the future. Green Bay, WI (Sports Network) - A pair of reigning division champions will kick off their preseason schedules on Thursday evening, when the Green Bay Packers welcome the San Diego Chargers to Lambeau Field. The Packers rebounded from a 1-4 start in 2004 to finish 10-6 and win the NFC North, scoring a conference-best 424 points in the process. Mike Sherman?s club saw its season end with a 31-17 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings in an NFC Wild Card Game. San Diego, meanwhile, enjoyed a stunning turnaround from a 4-12 record in 2003 to go 12-4 last season, taking the AFC West and reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 1995 season. Like the Packers, Marty Schottenheimer and company saw their season draw to a close in the Wild Card round, with the New York Jets earning a 20-17 overtime victory on the road. Packer fans will be eager to get their first glimpse of Aaron Rodgers in game action, as the 2005 first-round draft pick out of California is believed to be the team's quarterback of the future. Rodgers, who completed better than 66 percent of his passes and threw 24 touchdown strikes during his senior season with the Golden Bears, will likely see the bulk of his time in the second half. Incumbent backups Craig Nall and J.T. O'Sullivan, who are fighting for the No. 2 job behind Brett Favre, are expected to see a great deal of action as well. Also worth noticing for Green Bay supporters will be the work of the offensive line, which lost top guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle to free agency in the offseason. Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer, who combined for zero starts between them in 2004, are expected to step into the starting guard slots in '05. Defensively, new coordinator Jim Bates will be looking to turn around a unit that ranked 25th against the pass and 23rd in scoring defense during the '04 campaign. Linebacker Na'il Diggs, who is nursing a knee injury, is among the players not expected to suit up on that side of the ball.
Two of the Chargers' top players are not expected to be in action on Thursday night, including one prominent force on both sides of the ball. Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates, who caught 81 passes and 13 touchdown strikes in 2004, is seeking a contract that would make him among the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL, and has not reported to training camp. On defense, inside linebacker and leading 2004 tackle Donnie Edwards suffered a sprained right ankle at a Monday practice session, and will likely be held out for precautionary reasons. Expected to play, however, are each of San Diego's 2004 first-round draft picks. Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (Maryland) will be among those looking to bolster a pass rush that struggled at time last season, and defensive tackle Luis Castillo (Northwestern) will look to provide yet another force on one of the league's top run-stopping units of a year ago. At quarterback, Pro Bowler Drew Brees should see action in the first quarter, before yielding to Philip Rivers and the San Diego backups.
The Chargers and Packers have met just one other time in the preseason, playing to a 0-0 tie in the 1980 Hall of Fame Game in Canton, OH. That contest was called with 5:29 to play due to severe lightning. Green Bay owns a 7-1 advantage in the regular season series, and was a 38-21 road winner in the last such meeting, during 2003. 08/10 11:44:27 ET
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Originally Posted by TiTlist
