The Green Bay Packers made it to the playoffs this year despite dealing star quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets and having a younger-than-usual roster among postseason-caliber NFL teams. Green Bay made it all work, though, on its way to finishing seventh in the NFC and booking a first-round playoff bout with the Dallas Cowboys.
Green Bay Packers’ Historically Young Roster
The Packers have featured plenty of young and/or inexperienced players this season, led by starting quarterback Jordan Love seeing the first extended stretch of meaningful action in his career.
That’s only possible due to Green Bay trading longtime starting QB Rodgers to the Jets back in April in exchange for draft capital. A few of the picks used in the 2023 NFL Draft turned into key contributors right away, including tight end Luke Musgrave and kicker Anders Carlson.
Those players have contributed to a uniquely young roster for a playoff team. Green Bay has the fifth-youngest team to make the playoffs since 1970 based on average age weighted for playing time, according to Elias Sports. They also have the youngest roster in that statistic since the 1997 Chicago Bears.
Additionally, that makes the Packers the youngest team to make the playoffs since the NFL expanded its schedule to 16 games in 1978, according to StatMuse.
Green Bay is also one of just two teams since 1994 to reach the playoffs with three players or less aged 30 or older on its roster alongside the 2018 Cowboys, according to Stathead.
David Bakhtiari (32), Preston Smith (31), and De’Vondre Campbell (30) are the team’s only players in that category. Bakhtiari, meanwhile, has been on injured reserve since Sept. 28 after suffering a season-ending knee injury.
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Still, that young roster mixed with some key experience has delivered for the Packers.
Love has stepped up as a standout quarterback in place of Rodgers, completing 64.2% of his pass attempts for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions this season. He’s aiming to be just the latest in Green Bay’s historic string of star QBs after the legendary Brett Favre gave way to Rodgers.
Rookie wide receivers Jayden Reed (64 catches, 793 yards, and eight TDs) and Dontayvion Wicks (39 catches, 581 yards, and four TDs) have also been key contributors, as have second-year wideouts Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson.
Veteran running back Aaron Jones provides a dependable presence on the ground with 142 carries for 656 yards and two touchdowns, as has fourth-year back AJ Dillon (178 carries for 613 yards and two scores).
Ultimately, though, youth has gotten Green Bay back to the playoffs after missing last season. That same core will need to continue shining for the Packers to knock off the Cowboys in Sunday’s Wild Card clash.
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