Packers WR Adams to COVID-19 list, DC positive before Cards game
Oct 25, 2021, 7:53 AM | Updated: 1:15 pm
Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl receiver Davante Adams has been placed on the COVID-19 reserve, general manager Brian Gutekunst announced Monday.
Additionally, defensive coordinator Joe Barry will likely miss the Thursday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals after testing positive for COVID-19, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Monday.
Adams is quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ top option. The four-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro a season ago is third in the NFL with 744 receiving yards on 52 catches so far this season.
Vaccinated players and coaches can return after testing negative for coronavirus for two consecutive days. Adams is vaccinated, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.
As for missing Barry, Green Bay (6-1) ranks sixth in the NFL by allowing only 210.6 passing yards per game. Football Outsiders has the defense rated 23rd in the NFL with a 19th-ranked pass defense and 30th-ranked rush defense by the site’s defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) statistic.
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The Packers are one of nine teams that have forced at least 10 turnovers so far this season, making for a +5 turnover differential through seven games.
Garafolo reports that Barry will virtually help his team plan for the Cardinals game during this short week, but the Packers will now have to deal something Arizona is familiar with over the past two games.
Arizona (7-0) lost head coach and offensive play-caller Kliff Kingsbury two days before a Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns and did not have him around in person heading into the team’s Sunday victory against the Houston Texans. Kingsbury was cleared Sunday morning, hours before the Week 7 game that his team won, 31-5.
Barry’s Packers, who are coming off a 24-10 victory against the Washington Football Team, will ready for an Arizona offense that ranks seventh in offensive DVOA, per Football Outsiders.
The Cardinals are also seventh in the NFL by averaging 402 total yards per game with one game left in Week 7 (the New Orleans Saints visit the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football). Arizona is 11th in passing yards per game (265.6) but fifth in rushing yards per game (136.6).
