Matt LaFleur address plan without Davante Adams, defensive coordinator

The Green Bay Packers will be without their star wide receiver and defensive coordinator for one of their biggest games of the season on Thursday, but head coach Matt LaFleur has a contingency plan.

Davante Adams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and Joe Barry tested positive for the virus, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced on Monday. The Packers were able to account for the absences since they were made known early in the week. 

“LaFleur said that the news of WR Davante Adams testing positive came early enough that the coaches were able to account for it in their game plan,” per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “But he said they always have alternatives in case someone gets hurt during a game.”

Adams is tied for being the second-most targeted receiver in the NFL, and he is third in receiving yardage with 744 catches on 52 receptions. He has three touchdown catches this year.

In addition to Adams’ absence, wideout Allen Lazard was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been working through a hamstring injury which has sidelined him for the last four games. If all three receivers are unavailable on Thursday, Green Bay will be without its top-three pass catchers. 

Receiver Randall Cobb and running back Aaron Jones will likely be quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ go-to targets on Thursday in the event the other three are out.

Electric Arizona offense presents tough challenge

On the defensive side of the ball, Green Bay will have to try to stop quarterback Kyler Murray and a potent Arizona Cardinals offense without their defensive coordinator in the building. 

Per Silverstein, passing game coordinator Jerry Gray will call the plays Thursday in Barry’s absence, and inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti will relay the calls to linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.

A dismal Green Bay red zone defense looked much improved last weekend, but the previous bar was low. Prior to Sunday’s victory over the Washington Football Team, the Packers had failed to stop anyone from scoring a touchdown once they entered the redzone. They remain the third-worst red zone defense in the NFL.

Arizona is averaging 32.1 points per game, which is fourth in the NFL. The Cardinals are seventh in country in red zone offense and overflowing with talent at the skill positions. Murray remains a favorite in the MVP race.

The Thursday Night Game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Fox and the NFL Network. Arizona is a 6.5-point favorite at home. The Cardinals are the only undefeated team left in the NFL, and Green Bay is on a six-game winning streak.