The Packers clobbered the Bears last night, but there was a cost. Davante Adams suffered head and neck injuries after a big hit, and both Ty Montgomery (ribs) and Jamaal Williams (knee) were knocked out of the game. Those injuries, of course, open the door for other players in next week's waiver claims.
Early reports on Adams are positive. He might have got away with just being banged-up, and maybe he'll be fine for next week. There's a few extra days in there.
But Geronimo Allison -- added in most leagues when Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb were banged-up, but maybe dropped with those guys healthy again -- should be on rosters just in case Adams misses time. The Packers have three wide receivers on most snaps and with Aaron Rodgers on top of his game, all those guys have a chance to put up good numbers in any given week. All three starters scored last night.
Montgomery apparently suffered broken ribs on his first carry last night, then played a few more snaps before being sidelined. We've seen broken rib injuries with running backs before. Maybe he'll miss time (seems likely), but sometimes those guys are able to play with some protection; it can be an issue of pain tolerance. Depends on the severity.
I have Montgomery in an important league, and both Williams and No. 3 Aaron Jones are available on waivers. No doubt both will be added during next week's claim period. Williams ran as the No. 2 all during the preseason, and last night, plus he was drafted earlier. And early indications are the knee injury isn't serious.
But I'm mulling spending my money on Jones instead. It's early, so there will be more reports out of Green Bay before I need to make a decision. But Jones probably has a little more speed (combine times were almost identical: 4.56 for Jones, 4.59 for Williams) and is a slightly better receiver, which is huge in the offense. Jones caught 71 passes and 7 TDs in college at Texas-El Paso, involved in the passing game throughout his career. Williams caught 60 balls and 1 TD at BYU, so he can apparently catch, but wasn't used at all in that capacity his last two seasons; just 15 catches the last two years he played.
To be clear: Williams has been the No. 2 all along. If his knee checks out OK, he's probably the correct handcuff until we hear something different. He's a bigger back and might bring an inside running component that they'd need.
But right now I'm thinking Jones has a little more upside in this offense. If Montgomery misses time, probably both guys would play. I'm thinking about spending my waiver dollars on Jones this week.
--Andy Richardson