The Green Bay Packers have watched their playoff hopes slip away over the last two weeks. They entered Week 14’s matchup against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football with a 6-6 record and a path to a Wild Card spot. But, it doesn’t look like it is meant to be.
Green Bay lost that game 24-22 after Randy Bullock kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to give the Giants a victory. Tommy DeVito led their offense down the field with 1:33 remaining, receiving no resistance from a Packers defense that more often than not has underwhelmed this season.
In a must-win game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15, the defense once again came up short. Baker Mayfield made history, putting together the best quarterback performance by a visiting player ever at Lambeau Field. He helped lead Tampa Bay to a 34-20 victory and essentially knocked the Packers out of the playoff race.
NFL News & Rumors: De’Vondre Campbell & Green Bay Packers Updates
Not surprisingly, the team’s defense has been the target of scrutiny for the past few weeks. They haven’t been able to get stops when needed and a lot of heat has been on defensive coordinator Joe Barry, who won’t be fired.
Players are now voicing their frustrations with how the team’s defense is being criticized. One of the Packers’ best players, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice his displeasure, vowing to never play through an injury again.
“Not going out my way anymore, and I’m not playing through injuries anymore cause when s*** goes wrong, they always use it against you. I’m treating everyone accordingly and giving them the same energy they give me. Focus on yourself and your mental 59, you owe it to yourself,” Campbell wrote on his account.
Who exactly Campbell is directing that message to? It could be the team’s fans or media members who have been critical of his and the defense’s performance. Since his All-Pro season in 2021, Campbell has dealt with a multitude of injuries.
NFL News & Rumors: De’Vondre Campbell & Green Bay Packers Updates
Last season, he missed four games because of an ankle injury. During the offseason, he revealed he was dealing with a shoulder injury which he didn’t tell anyone about. This season, Campbell has missed four Packers games, three because of an ankle issue and one because of his neck.
It would be fair to assume that Campbell, who was torched in coverage by the Buccaneers on Sunday, could have been playing hurt in the game. But, he wasn’t on the injury report, which opens up a totally different can of worms for the Packers.
The frustrations of another potential playoff-less season could have gotten to Campbell with that message he shared. He certainly isn’t the only one frustrated as the defense was expected to be the strength of the Packers in 2023 but it has been a drag on their success instead.
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