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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Zach Kruse

Live updates and highlights from Packers’ preseason showdown vs. Patriots

The Green Bay Packers are hosting the New England Patriots in the second of three preseason games for Matt LaFleur’s team in 2023. Saturday night’s showdown is the preseason opener at Lambeau Field after the Packers defeated the Bengals 36-19 in Cincinnati last Friday.

Follow along with Packers Wire for live updates and highlights from Packers vs. Patriots in the preseason:

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Final score: Patriots 21, Packers 17

Game ends after scary injury

An injury to Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden resulted in the Packers and Patriots agreeing to end the game with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Patriots are the winners, 21-17. The Packers were on the drive in New England territory when the injury took place. Bolden was put on a backboard and carted off the field.

Injury for Hanson

Backup center Jake Hanson left the contest with a shin injury. He was replaced by Cole Schneider at center.

Big-time catch from Heath

Fifth-round pick Sean Clifford to undrafted free agent Malik Heath for 25 yards. Nice throw into a tight window from Clifford, and a terrific catch from Heath in traffic.

Injury for Dontayvion Wicks

Wicks has hardly played, now we know why. Wicks has a hamstring injury. One to monitor moving forward for the fifth-round pick.

Injury for Tarvarius Moore

The Packers reported safety Taravarius Moore has a knee injury. The former 49er is competing to be a starter at safety.

Patriots 21, Packers 17

On fourth down, Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe broke contain of the pocket and found the end zone to put New England back into the lead. Rookie Brenton Cox Jr. appeared to lose contain on the edge, allowing Zappe to run it in. The Patriots have a four-point lead to start the fourth quarter.

Disruptive play by Brooks

Karl Brooks’ tackle for loss in the red zone helped force the Patriots into a fourth-down situation. Brooks, a Day 3 picks, keeps flashing. He’s been disruptive again on Saturday night.

Packers 17, Patriots 14

Anders Carlson gave the Packers a halftime lead with a 52-yard field goal. The kick had plenty of distance. Sean Clifford got the Packers into position, using a penalty and later a completion to Malik Heath to go 57 yards. Carlson has made both extra points (including one deeper point after due to penalty) and a 52-yard field goal in the first half.

Packers 14, Patriots 14

The Patriots got a big play to tie the game. Bailey Zappe hit Kayshon Boutte for a 42-yard touchdown to even the game at 14-14. Boutte beat Carrington Valentine in coverage and then avoided the tackle attempt of Anthony Johnson Jr. Tough play for the Packrs rookie defensive back duo.

Packers lose Henry Pearson to knee injury

Rookie fullback Henry Pearson has a knee injury. The Packers, who lost Tyler Davis last week, are getting low on available tight end/H-back/fullback types.

Packers 14, Patriots 7

The Packers turned the Patriots’ giveaway (sack-fumble forced by Kingsley Enagbare) into the go-ahead touchdown. Patrick Taylor bounced to the outside of a Luke Musgrave block and found the end zone from eight yards out to give the Packers a 14-7 advantage. The scoring drive went 62 yards in eight plays. Emanuel Wilson got the first four touches of the drive and produced 38 yards, including a catch of 11 yards and a run of 14 yards.

Enagbare ends another drive

Another drive, another Kingsley Enagbare possession-ender. This time, his sack of Mac Jones caused a fumble that he eventually recovered. Packers ball. Enagbare has two sacks in three series.

Packers 7, Patriots 7

Jordan Love marched the Packers 93 yards for the game-tying score, hitting Romeo Doubs for 42 yards and Jayden Reed for a 19-yard touchdown during the drive. He also scrambled once for 11 yards and drew a penalty. The touchdown pass was a dart to Reed, who got open in a late passing window, made the catch and found the end zone. A.J. Dillon provided a clean pocket with a block. Nice play all-around.

Big catch from Doubs, successful challenge

Matt LaFleur challenged an incomplete pass to Romeo Doubs and won, creating a 42-yard catch by Doubs from Jordan Love. Nice throw and catch. Doubs got the second foot in bounds to complete the play.

Enagbare ends drive with third-down sack

New England’s second offensive possession was put to an end by Kingsley Enagbare, who used a long arm pass-rush move to beat the right tackle and sack Mac Jones on third down, forcing a punt. On the punt return, a holding penalty on Henry Pearson negated a 15-yard return by Samori Toure.

Packers punt

Jordan Love hit Romeo Doubs to convert one third down, but the drive stalled on an incompletion intended for Jayden Reed. After a failed attempt to draw the Patriots offside, the Packers punted the ball away. Two drives, one turnover, one punt, no points for the first-team offense. Love is 3-of-6 passing for 22 yards. The Packers have also run six times for 22 yards.

Patriots 7, Packers 0

The Patriots took a 7-0 lead after recovering a fumble inside the 20-yard line and then getting a holding penalty in the end zone against rookie Carrington Valentine. Rhamondre Stevenson punched in the touchdown from 1-yard out to give the Patriots an early lead. Can Jordan Love and the Packers offense respond to some early adversity and put together a productive second drive?

First drive ends in a turnover

A promising first drive, which began with three-straight effective runs, ended with a botched snap between Josh Myers and Jordan Love. The snap from Myers appeared premature, Love couldn’t handle it in time and the Patriots recovered at the Packers’ 18-yard line. Rough look. Myers has had issues with the snap throughout camp.

Patriots win toss, defer, Jordan Love up first

The Patriots won the toss, defered to the second half and will kickoff to start the contest. That means Jordan Love is up first.

13 players won't play vs. Patriots

Here’s the full list:

CB Eric Stokes
CB Jaire Alexander
RB Lew Nichols
CB Corey Ballentine
S Innis Gaines
RB Tyler Goodson
LB Rashan Gary
LB De’Vondre Campbell
LT David Bakhtiari
T Caleb Jones
T Luke Tenuta
WR Bo Melton
TE Tyler Davis

DL Kenny Clark also won’t play, bringing the total to 14 players.

No Jaire

Jaire Alexander and David Bakhtiari aren’t suited up for Saturday night’s game, but they appear to be the only healthy starters not playing, per Matt Schneidman.

Here come the Packers

Offensive line configuration, no Bakhtiari

Rasheed Walker will apparently get a start at left tackle with David Bakhtiari out on Saturday night. Yosh Nijman starts on the bench. Walker, a seventh-round pick in 2022, has been getting more first-team reps in recent days.

Look at Lambeau

A field’s eye view of the new scoreboard at Lambeau Field.

Previews, joint practice recaps

The fireworks and laser show.

Packers Wire’s “5 things to watch” highlighted by the starting offense and a bunch of rookies.

Paul Bretl’s postion-by-position preview, starting with Jordan Love and ending with Anders Carlson.

Brandon Carwile spotlights four players needing to bounce back vs. the Patriots.

Why you should expect to see Love and the offense’s starters on Saturday night.

Bretl’s joint practice recaps:

Day 1, Wednesday
Day 2, Thursday

Q&A on Packers’ performance during joint practices.

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