Brett Hundley wants out. The Green Bay Packers quarterback is never going to get his opportunity to star with Aaron Rodgers in front of him. He's also never going to get a lucrative contract (although Mike Glennon might beg to differ). On Thursday night, he'll get an opportunity to increase his trade value when he starts in place of Rodgers for the Packers' preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hundley's big break
Judging by the practice reps on Monday, it appears that Rodgers is going to get Thursday night off; Hundley came out with the first team.
The preseason has been where the Packers have played him during his career. He has only attempted ten passes since being drafted in 2015, all of them coming last year. He completed just two of those ten attempts, with one going for an interception -- it wasn't necessarily the most inspiring showing from Hundley.
But the stage will be all his on Thursday. If Rodgers is going to sit out the entire game, Hundley should get the opportunity to play at least the first half, if not more. He'll still have a strong stable of Green Bay receivers on the field to make him look good. He'll also have the benefit of not seeing the first unit defense for more than a few drives. If he wants to ensure a trade to a quarterback-needy team -- the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets come to mind -- Thursday is his opportunity to pursue it.
Previewing Packers' preseason opener
It will probably be a light start for the team's first unit on Thursday. The main goal of the preseason is to get back into game shape, adapt to new teammates and players, and avoid injuries. Hundley will run the offense at a respectable tempo and avoid having the offensive line get too gassed as they learn to work with one another.
Victory is not the objective for the Packers; opportunities for evaluation and development should be.
Injuries are already beginning to creep up on the Packers, though. Cornerback Davon House missed Monday's practice with a hamstring injury, wide receiver Colby Pearson is nursing an ankle injury, and tight end Beau Sandland has a knee ailment.
There are two players who are still on the PUP list. The team is fortunate that -- outside of House -- none of these players are major contributors to this season's team. But Green Bay wants to get in and out of Thursday night's game without having to add a whole list of names to the preseason injury report.