The Green Bay Packers were missing key players in their win against the Minnesota Vikings. Starters Josh Jacobs, Quay Walker, and Matthew Golden missed the game with injury, but backups stepped up big in their place.
Emanuel Wilson
Replacing a workhorse running back like Josh Jacobs is no easy task, but Emanuel Wilson had the best game of his NFL career in relief. Jacobs suffered a knee injury against the Giants and was unable to return to the game. He was a gametime decision against Minnesota but was unable to suit up.
The Packers offense relied heavily on Wilson on Sunday, handing him the ball 28 times. He converted that into 107 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns.
After establishing a lead, Green Bay leaned on Wilson and the run game. With Jordan Love still dealing with a shoulder injury, the gameplan was to minimize his chances of getting hit. It worked perfectly as Wilson shouldered the load while the Packers defense shut down Minnesota all afternoon.
Wilson became the first Packer with over 100 yards rushing in game since Jacobs last reached the mark last November.
Wilson gave the Packers run game some much needed juice and allowed Jacobs and Love to recover with a short week coming. He also showed he deserves touches even when both are fully healthy.
Anthony Belton
Former first round pick Jordan Morgan had taken over the job as the right guard on the Packers offensive line. He was drafted to be the left tackle of the future but found himself playing guard out of necessity. He has had mixed results so far in his NFL career.
2025 2nd round pick Anthony Belton also played tackle in college, but rotated with Morgan at right guard early against the Vikings. Belton ended up taking over the position later in the game and played 45 snaps to Morgan’s 21.
The reason for Belton taking over in this game was due to the game script. With the Packers going run heavy, they wanted the bigger player blocking on the interior. At 6’6″ and 336 pounds, he help paved the way for Wilson and the run game.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said of Belton after the game, “He’s a mauler. He does a great job. I love the way he plays the game.”
After his performance and helping spark the ground attack, Belton may have found himself a starting position for the rest of the season.
Isaiah McDuffie
Starting linebacker Quay Walker was out with a neck injury. Walker is having his best season as a pro, setting the tone for the entire Packers defense. He is also the defensive player that wears the green dot helmet, communicating the play calls from the coach to the players.
While Isaiah McDuffie plays a lot in base formation, he was asked to become a full time player in Walker’s absence. He also took on the responsibility of wearing the green dot. His ability to step up and lead the defense is not surprising as he was voted a team captain before the season.
McDuffie played every defensive snap of the game. He shined with 8 tackles, a half sack, and an interception. LaFleur gave McDuffie a game ball postgame for his ability to step up and command the defense.
Depth on Display
Every NFL team’s depth is tested during the physical 17 game season. The Packers depth showed up on Sunday afternoon.
Defensive tackle Warren Brinson, a 2025 7th round pick, flashed his pass rush ability and recorded his first career sack.
In the secondary, Keisean Nixon was forced out of the game due to a stinger. Kamal Hadden, who spent the entire 2024 season on the Packers practice squad, stepped up in his place. Hadden only gave up 2 catches for 12 yards on 18 coverage snaps against Minnesota’s talented pass catchers.
Being a backup in the NFL is hard, never knowing when you may be called upon. Green Bay’s backups had the next man up mentality and excelled in their opportunities. They may have another opportunity to star on a short week in a massive Thanksgiving showdown in Detroit.
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