Packers Finally Bench Struggling Veteran in Week 8 Win
(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Javon Bullard #20 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates with Carrington Valentine #24 after recovering a fumble by Kenneth Gainwell #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter in the game at Acrisure Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Packers did not exactly shut down Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers in their Sunday night road victory in Week 8, but they certainly made things more difficult on him as the game wore on. Rodgers was 24-for-36 passing, with two touchdowns, but was limited on making the big throws, as Rodgers threw for only 218 yards–an average of 6.1 yards per attempt.
It was Rodgers’ worst game since a Week 3 win over the Patriots. And it came with the Packers making a notable change on the defensive back side, with veteran free-agent signee Nate Hobbs finally benched in favor of Carrington Valentine.
It was a move Packers fans had been calling for in the early weeks of the season, as Hobbs–signed from the Raiders this offseason–has struggled to establish himself in Green Bay. Hobbs had offseason knee surgery and missed Week 1, but has struggled since his return, allowing opposing quarterbacks a 121.4 completion rate when he is targeted this season. That number was 87.2 last year with the Raiders for Hobbs.
Packers Played Carrington Valentine Nearly All Defensive Snaps
Valentine, meanwhile, was solid in his performance against Rodgers. He had seen his playing time dwindle over the course of the season, until he was limited to just two snaps in Week 7, before he was given 62 snaps on Sunday, to just four for Hobbs.
Valentine did give up a touchdown to receiver Roman Wilson with 2:16 to go and the game all but decided, but even on that play, Valentine closed quickly on Wilson and knocked the ball out of his hands–only after replay was it determined that Wilson had made the catch.
There’s still plenty of time in the season, but it certainly looked as though the Packers were planning to continue with Valentine as the primary corner opposite Keisean Nixon, keeping Hobbs on the bench.
Carrington Valentine ‘Got an Opportunity’
Coach Matt LaFleur explained the thinking in moving Valentine to a bigger role:
“CV got an opportunity and he went out there and I thought he played really competitively the entire game, and I know even on the touchdown catch, I just loved how he competed for the football. I thought that was big-time, and it didn’t go our way in that, in that moment.
“But I thought all in all, he showed physicality. He was challenging guys. There was just no gimmes. And I thought that was big-time because that’s how we want to play. We may be in a three-deep zone defense but you still got to be sticky in some regards in your coverage. You can’t be just giving up freebies all the way down the field.”
Packers CB Competition Still Ongoing
That sounds like LaFleur indicating that Hobbs was, in fact, giving up freebies too often for the team’s liking. And in fairness to Hobbs, he might just not be fully healthy at this point. Besides which, Nixon also had some struggles in Week 8, so it is possible that Hobbs could get back on the field by outplaying Nixon.
“I think when we look at a lot of these situations, you know, we always talk about how it’s going to be a competitive situation, and it was just that,” LaFleur said. “A lot of it comes down to not only—I mean obviously, everybody sees how you perform in a game—but what nobody sees is what we’re doing on a daily basis in practice. …
“At the same time, it’s going to continue to be a competitive situation because we still have a ton of confidence in Hobbs. All of those guys, Keisean, they’re all gonna be competing for playing time.”
J.J. McCarthy's return to Michigan draws FOX's top broadcast crew
J.J. McCarthy is making his return to the playing field Sunday. After missing the previous six weeks with a high ankle sprain, his much-anticipated return Sunday against the Lions has drawn FOX's No. 1 broadcast crew.
Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will be in the booth for the call with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi as the sideline reporters for FOX on Sunday at Ford Field. It is the crew's first time calling the Vikings since the Week 17 border battle last season at U.S. Bank Stadium between Minnesota and Green Bay. Sam Darnold led Minnesota to a 27-25 win that day, while throwing for 377 yards, one touchdown, and an interception.
Michigan connection
Not only does Sunday mark McCarthy's return to action, it also marks the first time he's played in Michigan since his illustrious college career with the Wolverines came to an end with a national championship in January of 2024. McCarthy, being a former Wolverine quarterback and returning to Michigan, certainly went into play with FOX assigning fellow former Michigan QB Tom Brady to the game.
Before being forced to miss time, McCarthy led the Vikings to a 1-1 record, including a comback win over the Bears in the season opener. He had completed 58% of his passes while throwing for 301 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Before he was selected by the Vikings with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy starred for the Michigan Wolverines, where he led the program to the 2024 national title. In three years at Michigan, McCarthy posted a 27-1 record as a starter, while throwing for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 40 games.
What's at stake for the Vikings?
Minnesota enters the game against the Lions looking to stop a two-game losing streak and get back into the NFC playoff hunt. The Vikings are also looking to halt a five-game losing streak to the Lions, the longest such losing streak to the Lions since the first five meetings between the teams from 1961 to 1963.
With a 3-4 record, the Vikings are on the edge of the playoff hunt but also, with a loss, would be ideal seller at the trade deadline next Tuesday. Sunday's game could mean the difference between staying competitive all season long, or selling a few valuable pieces and seeing what the team has in McCarthy.
