Packers 'don't really know what to expect' from Vikings offense

The Packers are preparing to face a Vikings offense that showed very little in the preseason.

It's going to take about a quarter before the Green Bay Packers start to figure out what the new-look Minnesota Vikings offense is all about. That's the word from Packers linebacker and former Minnesota Gopher De'Vondre Campbell, who spoke highly of his upcoming opponent during a Labor Day media scrum. 

"Yeah they got some talented players, even at the quarterback position. Kirk cousins is a good quarterback. He knows how to get the ball out of his hands quick, so it's going to be a tough challenge. Especially with a new offense, we don't really know what to expect," said Campbell. 

"The most challenging thing is just knowing what to expect. We can't really focus on that. We just have to prepare with the information that we have. Like I said, the first couple of series it will just be reading your keys and playing ball. We'll kind of know after about a quarter of what to expect."

That right there is an opportunity for the Vikings to use the mystery behind the new playbook under first-year head coach Kevin O'Connell as an advantage, especially since defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and the Minnesota defense have a really good idea of what Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will try to do. 

Donatell was the defensive coordinator for the Broncos in 2019 when his defense held Rodgers to just 235 passing yards and one touchdown in Week 3. That just so happened to be the third game for Donatell leading the Denver defense, and Matt LaFleur's third game as head coach of the Packers. 

Packers hope Christian Watson will play Sunday

With Davante Adams now catching footballs from Derek Carr in Las Vegas, Aaron Rodgers is going to have to find a new best friend. Allen Lazard was the leading candidate before missing practice all of last week for an undisclosed reason, and LaFleur didn't lock him in for Sunday's opener in Minneapolis. 

"I think Allen's doing better but we'll see as the week progresses where he's at," the 42-year-old coach said Monday. 

If Lazard is out, that leaves Rodgers the likes of Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb, and rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. Doubs got a ton of preseason hype but Watson is the athletic freak from North Dakota State University whom the Packers traded up – with the Vikings – to draft. 

"That's the hope, but we'll see where he's at at the end of the week," said LaFleur when asked about Watson playing Sunday. 

Watson says he feels no lingering effects from a minor offseason knee surgery and that he's ready to play. 

"I definitely feel like there will be a little bit of nerves there, it being my first one. But I'm confident in myself, I'm confident in the playbook and everything. If I do get the chance, I feel like I'll be ready to go," he said.