The Green Bay Packers are not a team many people are taking seriously heading into the 2023 season. In the opinion of many people, all of their luster went out the door when Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets earlier this offseason.
Without Rodgers leading the offense, expectations are rather low for the Packers. But, that isn’t bothering players on the team. In fact, they like hearing all of the negativity that people are sharing as they are using it as motivation.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark recently made an appearance on The Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio. He revealed how the team is feeling about the negativity people share about them. Clark, for one, prefers it that way as it puts a chip on their shoulder.
“I like it that way,” Clark said. “This has been one of the first offseasons where we really haven’t been getting the credit, getting the love. Everybody says Aaron determines whether we win or lose, so we love it. We’re going to embrace it. When it comes to Week 1 and the season gets here, we’ll see how everything stacks up. We’re excited about it.” (H/T Brandon Carwile of Packers Wire)
2023 will be the start of a new era for the Packers as Jordan Love is taking over as the team’s starting quarterback. The 2020 first-round pick out of Utah State has been biding his time, waiting for this opportunity for three years.
Entering his fourth year as a pro, it is anyone’s guess how Love is going to respond to change. Projections and predictions are wide-ranging, but most of them are on the modest side, believing Love will struggle like other first-time starters around the league.
However, Clark and his Packers teammates are confident that he can get the job done. Love has all of the support of the team’s locker room and they are looking forward to seeing what he can do on the field.
“He’s just been steady, coming into work,” said Clark. “He’s going to be a great player. I’m excited about everything he brings to our team.
“He’s definitely a leader. He comes in every single day and works his ass off. I think that’s what the guys respect about him and that’s what everyone loves about him. He’s got that quiet swag, that quiet confidence, and everybody feeds off that.”
Clark also added that he cannot wait to get out on the field with Love. That sentiment is shared throughout the Packers locker room, as they are ready to prove people wrong during the 2023 season and beyond.