On Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field, the 4-2 Green Bay Packers (tied for the top spot in the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings) host the surging New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees and company have won three straight games after what has become a traditional 0-2 start. Sean Payton’s offensive unit remains one of the best in the league and this club has featured one of the NFL’s passing attacks for more than a decade. So how will Dom Capers’ defensive unit deal with all this?

Who is available?

First things first. On Monday, the Green Bay Packers placed cornerback Quentin Rollins on injured reserve.

He was carted off the field last Sunday at Minnesota when it appeared that the three-year pro had suffered some sort of ankle injury. However, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported earlier this week that the 2015 second-round pick was suffering from an Achilles issue. Putting Rollins on IR enabled the team to active reserve quarterback Joe Callahan from the practice squad. Also out this Sunday against the Saints is underrated safety Morgan Burnett, who is dealing with a hamstring problem.

Listed as questionable on Friday’s NFL injury report were cornerbacks Davon House (quadricep) and Damarious Randall (hamstring). However, both players participated in practice Wednesday through Friday on a limited basis.

As for the positive news, 2017 rookie cornerback Kevin King, inactive last week after suffering a concussion at Dallas seven days earlier, was a full participant in practice all week. Both Lenzy Pipkins and Josh Hawkins have seen action this season. The latter has totaled 13 tackles, one forced fumbles and a team-high four passes defense.

And the secondary still has heady rookie safety, Josh Jones.

What Packers are facing

Only four teams in the NFL are averaging more passing yards per game than the New Orleans Saints. Brees has thrown for 1,321 yards and 10 touchdowns compared to only two interceptions during the team’s 3-2 start. The prolific signal-caller is connecting on an impressive 68.7 of his throws.

The 17-year quarterback has spread the ball around to 11 different pass catchers, including wideouts Michael Thomas (28) and Ted Ginn (15) and the running back tandem of rookie Alvin Kamara (24) and Mark Ingram (20). In terms of the Green Bay Packers’ secondary, they will certainly have their hands full dealing with the likes of Thomas, Ginn, wideout Brandon Coleman and tight end Coby Fleener. All four of those players have hauled in two touchdown passes this season.
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