The Eagles will kick off their season on Friday, September 6, against the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil, in the first matchup of the NFL's 2024 International Games.
As Training Camp has kicked off for both squads, there is no shortage of storylines to follow along with.
The Packers head into 2024 with quarterback Jordan Love entering Year 5 – his second as the full-time starter. Love threw 32 touchdowns and racked up 4,159 passing yards in 2023 in his first year with complete control of the reins in the post-Aaron Rodgers era.
Green Bay finished the regular season at 9-8 in 2023, clinching a Wild Card berth that led to an upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 2023 campaign came to an end in the Divisional Round for the Packers, losing to San Francisco 24-21.
After losing running back Aaron Jones in free agency, the team made a splash by signing former Raiders back Josh Jacobs to a multi-year deal as they look to make another playoff run in 2024.
Quick Stats
2023 record: 9-8 (2nd in NFC North)
Key additions: Josh Jacobs, Andre Dillard
Key losses: Aaron Jones, Jon Runyan, Darnell Savage
Top draft picks: Jordan Morgan (Round 1, pick 25), Edgerrin Cooper (Round 2, pick 45), Javon Bullard (Round 2, pick 58), Marshawn Lloyd (Round 3, pick 88)
Mike Spofford, the editor for the Packers' website, gave insight into what sticks out for the Packers as Training Camp is underway.
1. What are the top storylines to watch out for the Packers as camp begins?
"The Packers are beginning camp with three kickers vying for the job – incumbent Anders Carlson, who was a rookie sixth-round pick last year. He started strong, and then went through numerous ups and downs; veteran Greg Joseph, Minnesota's kicker the last three seasons who wasn't re-signed; and James Turner, claimed off waivers from the Lions after they signed star UFL kicker Jake Bates."
2. How does the addition of Josh Jacobs change the dynamic of the offense?
"It's hard to say until everyone sees how exactly he fits in and how he's used. Jacobs is replacing Aaron Jones as RB1, and the Packers are counting on his youth and durability to produce at a level similar to Jones. He's more of a power runner in the traditional feature-back mode, but he's talked with Head Coach Matt LaFleur about being used as a receiver out of the backfield more than he was with the Raiders. That's an area in which Jones excelled, and LaFleur's offense is always predicated on getting playmakers the ball in different ways."
3. What's the next step for this team, a younger one, coming off of a playoff run last season?
"Handling expectations as well as adversity. Last year, there was plenty of the latter, and they dealt with it well, but without the former. Now, the expectations exist after the strong finish to '23. Everyone will be watching to see if the Packers pick up where they left off last season, and with the Lions universally considered contenders as well, a slow start could be detrimental to any division title hopes." – Compiled by Liam Wichser
