The Green Bay Packers may be one step closer to a playoff spot following a 21-13 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday, but some of their most important players have taken a beating in the process.
Aaron Rodgers was limping, Jake Ryan checked out for some mid-game ankle maintenance, Nick Perry left with a club on his hand and Clay Matthews appeared to be playing with just one arm.
Matthews played hurt after calling out Eagles lineman Allen Barbre earlier in the week for a hit that left him with a shoulder injury, but has fought to stay on the field after missing several games with a hamstring injury.
His playing time dropped from 75 percent of the Packers’ defensive snaps in Week 12 to just 44 percent in Week 13.
Linebacker Nick Perry suffered an unspecified hand injury that forced him out after just a few plays. He attempted to return to the field with a cast, but wasn't able to be on the field for more than a few plays.
Rodgers' mobility was limited by a nagging hamstring injury, which forced the Packers to work out of the shotgun for much of the game.
Check out more observations from the game below:
GAME 12: TEXANS (OFFENSE)
| PLAYER | Plays (58) | % |
|---|---|---|
| Bulaga | 58 | 100% |
| Bakhtiari | 58 | 100% |
| Spriggs | 58 | 100% |
| Taylor | 58 | 100% |
| Linsley | 58 | 100% |
| A. Rodgers | 58 | 100% |
| Nelson | 55 | 95% |
| Adams | 49 | 84% |
| Cobb | 44 | 76% |
| Montgomery | 29 | 50% |
| Cook | 29 | 50% |
| R. Rodgers | 27 | 47% |
| Ripkowski | 24 | 41% |
| Michael | 11 | 19% |
| Starks | 7 | 12% |
| Kerridge | 5 | 9% |
| Allison | 5 | 9% |
| Murphy | 3 | 5% |
| Janis | 2 | 3% |
GAME 12: TEXANS (DEFENSE)
| PLAYER | Plays (66) | % |
|---|---|---|
| Clinton-Dix | 66 | 100% |
| Burnett | 66 | 100% |
| Thomas | 63 | 95% |
| Gunter | 63 | 95% |
| Rollins | 63 | 95% |
| Peppers | 58 | 88% |
| Jones | 56 | 85% |
| Randall | 48 | 73% |
| Daniels | 45 | 68% |
| Ryan | 38 | 58% |
| Guion | 36 | 55% |
| Matthews | 29 | 44% |
| Hyde | 26 | 39% |
| Elliott | 24 | 36% |
| Lowry | 18 | 27% |
| Perry | 12 | 18% |
| Pennel | 8 | 12% |
| Clark | 7 | 11% |
-- After leading all Packers running backs with 76 percent of the snaps last week, James Starks suddenly appears to be the third back in the rotation.
-- Christine Michael gained 19 yards on nine carries, but had just four carries for one yard in the second half, as Ty Montgomery took over.
-- Montgomery helped the Packers salt the game away, rushing for 40 yards on just six carries and catching two of his three targets for 16 yards. He was on the field more than both Starks and Michael combined.
-- The Packers’ secondary has quietly improved over the last few weeks, and cornerback LaDarius Gunter is leading the way. Per Pro Football Focus, Gunter didn’t allow a catch, and was tested just twice.
-- Jeff Janis hasn’t played more than a handful of snaps since Week 8, but he nearly found the end zone on one of his two plays. Janis sprinted up the left sideline on a reverse in the fourth quarter, scampering 19 yards to the 3-yard line.
-- Fullback Aaron Ripkowski scored on the Packers’ next play, a week after scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season.
