FanHouse ChadClifton

This just hasn't been Green Bay's year.

Many fans are going to trace it directly back to the day the Packers decided to go with Aaron Rodgers as the starting quarterback, even though future Hall of Famer Brett Favre was contemplating a return from his short retirement.

Others will look -- more accurately -- at the day general manager Ted Thompson traded hulking defensive tackle Corey Williams to Cleveland to avoid giving him a huge contract. Or the day Thompson decided that second-year tackle Justin Harrell would be able to fill that void.

Coming from a Packer fan, there are too many people to point fingers at on this one.

While Rodgers is not at all immune, he's handled the spotlight very well. His teammates have praised his play on the field, and they've praised his off-field presence. This fan believes you couldn't have scripted a better transition from Favre to the next guy. Rodgers didn't ask for it to go down this way, and nearly all the criticism that's been thrown his way has been completely unfair.

He's played well. Others who carried high expectations into the season have not. The reality is that the Packers are 5-7, an extreme longshot for the playoffs, and Sunday's fourth quarter was a microcosm of the season to this point.

There were two facts about the Green Bay Packers' preseason that you might find startling.

For starters, an offensive line that has prided itself on protecting Brett Favre for so many years didn't do a very good job with Favre's replacements in the preseason. Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm, and Matt Flynn were sacked a combined 16 times in four games, the most sacks allowed by any team in the preseason.

Meanwhile, the Packers defensive line struggled to generate much of any push against their opponents. The defense picked up just two sacks, which ranked last in the NFL.

Yes, it's just preseason, but the Packers clearly have a little bit of work to do in the trenches.

Luckily for them, so does Minnesota.

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

Green Bay Packers:

Out: Running back Vernand Morency (knee), running back P.J. Pope (knee), running back DeShawn Wynn (quad) and fullback Brandon Miree (stinger).

Questionable: Cornerback Al Harris (back), guard Tony Palmer (undisclosed), defensive end Devon Hicks (groin), tackle Orrin Thompson (back) and cornerback Charles Woodson (hamstring)

Probable: Safety Marviel Underwood (knee), defensive end Aaron Kampman (knee), linebacker Abdul Hodge (knee), wide receiver Greg Jennings (hip), tackle Chad Clifton (knees), tight end Bubba Franks (cornea) and linebacker Nick Barnett (back).

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

Green Bay Packers:

Out: Quarterback Paul Thompson (no injury) and running back Vernand Morency (knee).

Doubtful: Fullback Brandon Miree (stinger) and guard Tony Moll (stinger).

Questionable: Running Back DeShawn Wynn (quad), cornerback Al Harris (back) and cornerback Charles Woodson (hamstring).

Probable: Wide receiver Greg Jennings (hip), tackle Chad Clifton (knees), tackle Orrin Thompson (back), tight end Bubba Franks (cornea) and wide receiver Robert Ferguson (foot).