For some Green Bay Packers, this past Thursday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field may be the last NFL action they ever see. Because of that, guys were ready to leave it all on the field, something the coaches told the players to do before the game. 

The last quarterback on a crowded depth chart, Manny Wilkins made the most of his fourth quarter drive, even going as far as to hurdle over a Chiefs defender and get out of bounds to move the chains.

“Honestly, I was just going out there trying to make a play for the dudes that are on that field. A lot of guys that aren’t going to be here, come tomorrow,” said Wilkins. 

“I play this game with a certain type of passion. I’ve been through so much in my life. So to have an opportunity to go out there in an NFL stadium in front of NFL fans on National TV, no matter the circumstance, whatever opportunities I’ve got i’m going to put my all on the line.” 

Rookie running back Dexter Williams felt similarly, although his path to the roster is a little bit more solidified. When the game was tied at 20, Williams knew the offense had to give it one last effort to put points on the board and end the preseason the right way. 

“I was just talking to the offense,” said Williams. “We’ve got to finish this drive. Let’s leave with a win. Let’s leave on good terms.” 

For some players in the locker room, this was a stepping stone to the regular season. Rookie tight end Jace Sternberger, a third-round pick in the 2019 Draft, caught a touchdown in his very first NFL action, on his very first reception. 

“It was exciting; I felt like it was a good first experience,” said Sternberger, who wished he maybe could have played longer if not for a minor ankle injury that kept him sidelined as a precautionary measure. 

On his first official Lambeau Leap, Sternberger said the wall was higher than he originally anticipated. “I plan on doing it again so I’m going to get a little more momentum,” he joked. 

Fellow Aggie and draft pick Kingsley Keke agreed that it was nice to get some preseason work before the regular season kicks off next week in Chicago. 

“It feels really good but I just want to keep being consistent and working on those little things,” he said of his night that consisted of a QB hit, sack, and tackle for loss.  

“I can’t wait to see how the season is going to be,” he added. “This is going to be my first regular season game coming up, so I don’t know. I’ll see how it is. I’m just excited, blessed to be a part of it. I’m ready to go.”

Head Coach Matt LaFleur didn’t award the QB two spot to either Tim Boyle or DeShone Kizer during his post game press conferences. That one will come down to the wire, or will it? 

“There’s a lot of tough decisions that are going to be made,” said LaFleur. “I think you’re always trying to find the best 53, and within that, you’re looking at numbers at specific positions.”

When asked about quarterbacks, LaFleur was upfront in admitting that no decision had been made yet. “It doesn’t matter to me in terms of, you can never have enough good quarterbacks, so if you feel like you have three of them, you’re going to keep three of them.” 

Of Kizer specifically, he said, “I still think he’s a young player and he’s got a lot more to learn. “He’s been a great teammate and he’s been great in the room.” 

Both quarterbacks echoed similar sentiments, expressing that it’s not their decision what happens on cutdown day, but they’re proud of the effort they left on the field. 

“I think I went out and gave my absolute all,” said Kizer. 

“I think I put a good preseason together,” said Boyle.  

While Wilkins is as long a shot as they come to make the initial 53-man roster, he’s hopeful he’ll get to stick around in Green Bay on the practice squad and continue to learn from Aaron Rodgers. 

“I’ve learned so much from him already with a year in this system and being around these guys. I could definitely grow a lot. I hope I have the opportunity,” he said. 

Another player that’s really stepped up this preseason was seventh-round draft pick Ty Summers, who had a 74-yard touchdown off an interception against the Chiefs, complete with a Lambeau Leap. 

“I literally talked about it this morning to a couple guys. I was sitting with Rashan and Olive, and I was like ‘Do you know how cool it would be to just have the opportunity to do a Lambeau Leap?’ If I could do that in however long or short my time is here in Green Bay, I would love to have that opportunity. And sure enough, it came to fruition,” said Summers. 

“Ty did a much better job as he got more experience. He had a great play last night,” said LaFleur. “You can really see what makes Ty special.”

On defensive third downs against Kansas City this past Thursday, the foghorn was noticeably missing. 

“I wasn’t aware of that, but I was told,” said LaFleur, laughing. 

Foghorn or no foghorn, the head coach is still encouraging fans to get loud and help make an impact inside Lambeau Field. 

“I truly believe that it does affect games. There’s no doubt in my mind,” he said. 

“I’ve been in some of these hostile environments where it’s extremely tough on the opposing teams when the crowd is into it, they’re up on their feet, it’s really loud, you can’t hear, and I do think it makes a tremendous impact on games.”

The preseason is behind us, Packers fans, and today we’ll get our first look at the 2019 Green Bay Packers as the team makes its initial cutdown to 53. If you’re going to be at the home opener Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, do the new head coach a favor and get loud. Otherwise, the foghorn might come back.