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Countdown to Camp: Spotlight on both Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love for different reasons

Examination of Packers’ roster begins with quarterbacks as training camp nears

QBs Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers
QBs Jordan Love and Aaron Rodgers

"Countdown to Camp" is a daily look at the Packers' roster, position by position, leading up to the start of training camp. The series begins with the quarterbacks.

GREEN BAY – Three years ago, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made a successful transition to a new offensive scheme and coaching staff.

Now another transition is at hand.

Rodgers and Green Bay's offense have entered the post-Davante Adams era in 2022, and while Rodgers confessed this spring the Packers will have to do things "differently" without the All-Pro and franchise-record-setting receiver, no one knows exactly what that's going to look like.

It puts an unfamiliar context around the upcoming training camp like the one in 2019 when Head Coach Matt LaFleur took the reins with a new playbook. Rodgers and the offense have functioned fine the last few years when Adams has missed games here and there, but now he's gone permanently and it could take a while for the unit to find a new comfort zone and rhythm.

But it'll sure help to have a four-time MVP running the show as the transition hits full swing this summer. Rodgers is coming off of back-to-back MVP seasons and will be aiming for a third in a row, accomplished only by his predecessor in Green Bay, Brett Favre. Also, should he win a fifth MVP, Rodgers would match the all-time high for the Associated Press award currently owned by Peyton Manning.

All the potential history is important to keep in mind as Rodgers, who obviously wants another Super Bowl shot more than anything, is in year-to-year mode with regard to when he'll be wrapping up his career. He did confirm this spring with the signing of a new contract that he "definitely" plans to finish his career with the Packers.

The following is the first installment in a series of photos examining the Packers' roster position by position. This installment examines the quarterbacks.

While Rodgers works to get the Adams-less offense in sync, the other story at the quarterback position will be the development of third-year pro Jordan Love. The 2020 first-round draft pick likely will take the bulk of the snaps in the Packers' three preseason games, which was the plan last year until an injury forced Love to sit out one of the exhibitions.

Love was running the No. 1 offense much of the spring while Rodgers missed most (though not all) of the offseason program, and he heads into this training camp with his first significant regular-season game action under his belt, too.

With Rodgers sidelined by COVID, Love got his first NFL start last season in Week 9 at Kansas City. Then as the Packers rested most of their starters in the second half of the Week 18 game at Detroit with the playoffs looming, Love took the controls again.

The results were decidedly mixed. Love struggled to find any footing against the blitzing Chiefs defense before leading a late TD drive, only to not get a chance to build on that success as Kansas City ran out the clock in a 13-7 decision.

Then against the Lions, Love led a pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives but then, with the game in the balance, threw interceptions on the Packers' final two possessions in a 37-30 loss.

All told in 2021, Love was 36-of-62 for 411 yards with two TDs, three interceptions and a 68.7 passer rating, numbers he surely expects to improve upon this preseason as a more experienced QB who won't always be facing No. 1 defensive personnel.

The third quarterback in camp will be Danny Etling, whom the Packers kept at the conclusion of the offseason program over Kurt Benkert, last season's No. 3.

The Packers signed Etling, a 6-3, 220-pound former LSU quarterback, to their practice squad last December, released him a week later, and then re-signed him after the season ended.

Originally drafted in the seventh round by New England four years ago, Etling spent time in training camp or on the practice squads of five different NFL teams (Patriots, Falcons, Seahawks, Broncos, Vikings) prior to coming to Green Bay.

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