The Green Bay Packers are new-look team in 2013. Missing several of their long-time players, fans might not recognize names on jerseys for the first game. Several young players are expected to step up and lead the team as well as a few rookies. As training camp approaches, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is missing some of the familiar faces.
Since Rodgers has been a starting quarterback for Green Bay, he has always known who his top two wide receiver targets would be, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. The two veteran receivers totaled up 567 passes for Rodgers in the past five years, but they will not be adding to that number come the 2013 season.
Both Jennings and Driver are officially no longer Packers. Driver called it a career and announced his retirement from the NFL once the season was officially over. Green Bay opted to not retain Jennings for 2013 and the free agent signed with the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason. Defensive star Charles Woodson is also gone from the team, signing with the Oakland Raiders in the offseason. That leaves Rodgers feeling a little nostalgic.
"Not having those two and a good friend of mine, Charles Woodson, who I played with for a long time just like those guys-that's different," Rodgers said to USA Today. "So, we're a different football team. Lacking a little in the experience part, but making up for it in the talent and the young guys that we brought in."
The returning receiving corps for the Packers are not exactly young. Top wide receiver James Jones has been with the team since 2007. Jordy Nelson and tight end Jermichael Finley have been around since 2008 and Randall Cobb is a third-year pro. Rodgers has plenty of experience with these faces, they just might not be his favorites compared to Jennings or Driver. Both players battled numerous injuries last season so Rodgers got in quality time with the group.
If Rodgers is lacking some trust with his receiving group, he should have a ground game to bail him out. Green Bay made it a priority to get better with their running offense, drafting Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin this season to fill the backfield. Both are expected to get a majority of the workload and boost the suffering run game Green Bay has experience for years.