Cullen Jenkins spent the first seven years of his NFL career with the Packers and won a Super Bowl with them. He spent the past two seasons with the Eagles and didn’t win much of anything. Yet Jenkins said he believes he was more emotional facing the Eagles this season than he will be Sunday against the Packers.
“Green Bay was more complicated because I was a free agent, we were coming off the Super Bowl, with the lockout, they had younger linemen behind me they wanted to take a chance on and go that route,’’ Jenkins said. “Philly, you’re actually under contract there to where you just get cut. They say we don’t want you any more, basically. It was a little bit different the way it played out.’’
That’s fine, but Jenkins wanted to stay in Green Bay following the 2011 season and even offered to give the Packers a hometown discount, but they never even made an offer. That stings.
“Any time you play against the team that maybe you feel like they looked past you and thought that they could replace you or just move on, didn’t want you, whatever the reason is, you kind of have a little feeling in you where you want to prove ’em wrong,’’ Jenkins said. “Show ’em that you still got it. What better way to do it than if you’re playing against them?’’
Pack is black & blue
Quarterback Scott Tolzien making his first start since the 2011 Rose Bowl may be the least of the worries for the Packers, who are coming off two losses in a six-day span at their usually hospitable Lambeau Field. Tolzien did not look overmatched when he was summoned off the bench to replaced injured Seneca Wallace in last week’s loss to the Eagles and, though he won’t be a reasonable facsimile of Aaron Rodgers, he could present more of a challenge than Josh Freeman, one-legged Michael Vick or sore-kneed Terrelle Pryor.
Everywhere you turn, the Packers are hurting. They already are playing without tight end Jermichael Finley and receiver Randall Cobb, and six players did not finish last week’s loss to the Eagles, including two starting offensive linemen — center Evan Dietrich-Smith and right tackle Don Barclay exited with knee injuries. Defensive end Johnny Jolly (groin), linebacker Nick Perry (foot) and cornerback Casey Hayward (hamstring) also were forced out. Nose tackle Ryan Pickett is dealing with a knee issue, and pass rush master Clay Matthews is playing even though his right hand is wrapped in a club to protect a thumb injury, making it difficult for him to wrap up on tackles.