Packer Central

Live Scoring Updates: Packers Rally, Beat Colts 23-19

The Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts, who lost their preseason openers last week, will battle on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Follow along all day for updates.
Bill Huber|
Malik Willis started at quarterback for the Packers at the Colts.
Malik Willis started at quarterback for the Packers at the Colts. | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will continue their preseason game on Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Packers weren’t going to play their starters in this game, anyway, but injuries have quarterback Jordan Love and receivers Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs on the sideline.

The Packers lost 30-10 to the Jets at Lambeau Field last week while the Colts lost 24-16 at the Baltimore Ravens.

With Malik Willis starting at quarterback for the Packers and Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones continuing their battle for the Colts, here are live updates.

Final Score: Packers 23, Colts 19

Fourth Quarter

Packers 23, Colts 19 (1:31 remaining)

It was Sean Clifford into the lineup playing with new running back Tyrion Davis-Price and new center Lecitus Smith. Clifford started the drive with a bootleg to Johnny Lumpkin for a gain of 13. Davis-Price had runs of 5, 7, 5 and 1 yards to set up third-and-4, which Amar Johnson picked up with a gain of 4 to the Colts’ 35 with 2:42 to go. Next, Clifford’s pass went through the hands of Julian Hicks, but a bit of a phantom pass-interference penalty was called, giving the Packers 9 yards to the 26. A 3-yard run by Johnson ran the clock to the 2-minute warning.

Clifford’s second-down bootleg was tipped at the line of scrimmage. His third-down pass, a deep shot to Isaiah Neyor, was incomplete. His fourth-down pass turned into a fourth-down scramble, which Clifford picked up with a 9-yard run. A defensive penalty by linebacker Solomon DeShields on the play made it first-and-goal at the 9. After Johnson lost 2 on first down, Clifford booted to the left. He had clear sailing. Helped by an end-zone block by Cornelius Johnson, the Packers had their first lead of the day.

Colts 19, Packers 16 (6:38 remaining)

Spencer Shrader’s 32-yard field goal has given the Colts the lead. On third-and-7, Riley Leonard hit Jelani Woods against linebacker Kristian Welch for a first down. One play later, it was Riley to Ajou Ajou for another first down. On the next play, a bootleg to Woods gained 11 to Green Bay’s 32. The drive eventually stalled, though, as Ajou appeared to drop a pass on fourth-and-3 from the 14.

Packers 16, Colts 16 (12:07 remaining)

Amar Johnson’s 9-yard touchdown run gave the Packers a chance for the lead, but Mark McNamee missed the extra point. On the score, right tackle Anthony Belton got a quick start off the ball for the initial block, J.J. Lippe had a good block and Johnson bounced off cornerback Alex Johnson at the 7 and back-pedaled his way across the goal line.

On third-and-5, Taylor Elgersma connected with Cornelius Johnson for a gain of 11 and the first down on the first play of the fourth quarter. After a timeout, the Packers faced fourth-and-3. Elgersma threw a bullet to Johnson between two linebackers. He made an excellent all-hands catch for a gain of 18 to the 29. On the next bootleg, Elgersma connected with tight end Johnny Lumpkin for 11 yards, with a facemask tacking on another 9 yards to make it first-and-goal at the 9.

Third Quarter

Colts 16, Packers 10 (1:12 remaining)

Spencer Shrader kicked a 56-yard field goal. Kristian Welch had three tackles on the drive and Keith Randolph had another pass deflection.

Colts 13, Packers 10 (4:19 remaining)

Taylor Elgersma looked much more confident to start the third quarter than he did to end the second quarter. He hit Cornelius Johhnson for 12 yards and Julian Hicks for 14 to get the ball past midfield. First-year tight end Johnny Lumpkin was flagged for holding, and that set up third-and-7. Elgersma didn’t look settled this time and threw it into coverage, was deflected and intercepted. However, he was bailed out when fourth-year cornerback Samuel Womack was flagged for a facemask, which gave the Packers a first down at the Colts’ 19.

From there, it was The Israel Abanikanda Show. He ran for 5 on first down, then plowed for 8 to the 6 as he rode the surge of left tackle Kadeem Telfort and left guard Donovan Jennings. Abanikanda ran for 4 to the 2 on first down but right tackle Anthony Belton was beaten by Eric Johnson on second down for a loss of 1. Abanikanda got one it again and plowed through safety Daniel Scott and linebacker Seguin Olubi for the touchdown.

He has earned every inch of his 12 carries for 43 yards.

Colts 13, Packers 3 (13:21 remaining)

Linebacker Kristian Welch, who is fighting for a roster spot, made a big-time tackle on third-and-2 to force a three-and-out punt.

“We didn’t give ourselves a chance,” LaFleur told sideline reporter Ashley Washburn at halftime. “Every time we make a play, there’s a penalty. It’s hard to get excited about that.”

Second Quarter

Colts 13, Packers 3 (0:00 remaining)

Mark McNamee put the Packers on the board with a 43-yard field goal on the final play of the half. The Packers’ offensive line depth is the equivalent of those “Dick and Jane” preschool books. Rookie Anthony Belton was flagged five times in the first half, including two for illegal formation on this drive. The first of those nullified a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ben Sims and the second eliminated a 17-yard penalty that would have given the Packers a shot from the 3 with 2 seconds remaining.

Colts 13, Packers 0 (0:47 remaining)

Finally, the Packers did something. On second down, Keith Randolph batted down Anthony Richardson’s pass. On third down, the Packers showed a blitz but dropped out of it, but Deslin Alexandre got through for a sack at the 3. The Packers called timeout with 59 seconds remaining. Mecole Hardman returned the punt 10 yards to the Colts’ 47.

Who’s Keith Randolph? Here’s your answer.

Colts 13, Packers 0 (1:38 remaining)

Green Bay’s offense is terrible, which is an irrelevant statement because almost none of these players will play meaningful snaps this year. On first down, left tackle Kadeem Telfort was flagged for a false start. On first-and-15, Emanuel Wilson was beaten for a sack. On second down, Jacob Monk gave up a pressure. On third down, it was a give-up completion to Wilson.

At least Daniel Whelan’s punt was good, with it pinning the Colts at the 8.

Colts 13, Packers 0 (2:14 remaining)

Given a short field after the turnover, rookie running back DJ Giddens ran for 12 when Nazir Stackhouse and Deslin Alexandre were blocked and Bo Melton missed a tackle. Alexandre drew a hold on the next play, though, which helped force a field goal, with Spencer Shrader booting a 29-yarder.

Colts 10, Packers 0 (4:10 remaining)

What’s worse? That Emanuel Wilson fumbled when he got it punched out by rookie defensive tackle Tim Smith? Or that rookie right tackle Athony Belton was guilty of his third penalty of the game, a 15-yard facemask that gave the Colts the ball at Green Bay’s 22?

Colts 10, Packers 0 (5:00 remaining)

Anthony Richardson and the Colts zoomed right down the field against the Packers’ second- and third-team defenders. He was 5-of-6 passing for 64 yards. Plus, he converted a third-and-9 with a 9-yard run when it appeared linebacker Isaiah Simmons moved to the wrong gap. On the touchdown, former Packers running back Tyler Goodson ran through Warren Brinson to get into the end zone.

Colts 3, Packers 0 (11:22 remaining)

Malik Willis delivered a big-time pass to running back MarShawn Lloyd, a downfield shot that gained 33. However, the drive started with holding by Kamal Hadden on the kickoff return and a false start by Anthony Belton, and it ended with a stupid, after-the-whistle shove in the back by Belton. In less than 20 minutes, Belton has been guilty of two penalties and a quarterback hit.

Colts 3, Packers 0 (14:46 remaining)

Daniel Jones had big-play completions of 22 yards to Michael Pittman vs. Kamal Hadden and 25 yards to tight end Tyler Warren on a busted coverage. With the Colts inside the 10, defensive end Arron Mosby drew a holding penalty. That helped set up a third-and-6 from the 7 to open the second quarter. The coverage was superb, both while Jones was in the pocket and after Kingsley Enagbare flushed him from the pocket. Jones threw it away and a 25-field goal put the Colts on the board.

INJURY UPDATE: DE Barryn Sorrell (knee) appears to be done for the day. He was injured on punt coverage. That he rode a bike on the sideline is probably a good sign that the injury is not serious.

First Quarter

Packers 0, Colts 0 (5:07 remaining)

After right tackle Anthony Belton was smoked on second down, Malik Willis had all day on third-and-6 for a 21-yard completion to Mecole Hardman. Moments later, on third-and-4, Julian Hicks made a sensational one-handed catch for 31 yards but left guard Donovan Jennings was flagged for holding. On third-and-14, Jennings lost on a stunt and Willis did well to throw it away to prevent the sack. On the punt, Isaiah Simmons had good a rep as a flier; Barryn Sorrell limped off the field.

Back to Hicks, we wrote about him before the game.

Packers 0, Colts 0 (8:14 remaining)

The Colts started with a pass of 19 yards from Daniel Jones to tight end Mo Alie-Cox. Isaiah Simmons had the initial coverage and was blocked. After an incomplete pass and busted play, rookie tight end Tyler Warren got open deep – Simmons again appeared to have the coverage responsibility – but Jones threw the ball 5 yards too far.

Packers 0, Colts 0 (9:47 remaining)

After MarShawn Lloyd was stuffed on first down and couldn’t catch a fastball that was thrown behind him on second down, Malik Willis had plenty of time and connected with Malik Heath just short of the marker on third down. On fourth-and-1, Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk led the charge as Chris Brooks rushed for the first down.

Later, on fourth-and-5, Willis extended the play before firing one over the middle to John FitzPatrick for 9 to the Colts’ 37. On the next play, a facemask penalty by Adetomiwa Adebawore gave the Packers a free 15 yards. The drive stalled on three consecutive incompletions – two off-schedule plays to Lloyd and a deep shot to Mecole Hardman – and Mark McNamee’s first field-goal attempt in an NFL game was wide left from 39 yards.

Jordan Love Throwing Pregame

This probably is not much of a surprise, since Jordan Love had surgery on his left thumb, but he was throwing to receivers during pregame warmups at Lucas Oil Stadium.

What did he see as he watched practice on Thursday with a cast on his left hand?

“I think there’s some good things we did and I think there’s some things we got to clean up,” Love told reporters after Thursday’s practice. “But I think days like this, like I said before, it falls back on the rules. How well can we go out there and execute our job vs. different looks that we haven’t seen?

“That’s the test, and these days are hard because, obviously, during the season, we’ll game plan for teams and be prepared for what we might see. So, these days you got to play it by ear once you get on the field and kind of just react. But I think there’s some good and there’s some stuff we got to clean up.”

How to Watch Packers at Colts

The game will be broadcast on the 22-station Packers TV Network. Kevin Harlan and former Packers fullback John Kuhn will be on the call, with Ashley Washburn on the sideline. The game will not be broadcast live nationally but it will be streamed online at NFL+. 

The game will be broadcast on the 54-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee and Larry McCarren on the call. 

Five Things to Watch

Front and center, it’s quarterback Malik Willis. Acquired at the end of training camp last season, Willis started against the Colts in Week 2 last season and led the Packers to victory. With Jordan Love out following thumb surgery, Willis will start Saturday’s game.

“I’ve been here for a year,” Willis said. “I got a lot of time in this offseason for the first time. Coming into an offense for a second season in a row, it’s been awesome.” 

Here’s what else you should watch.

Most-Improved Packers

How will the Packers improve upon last year’s 11-6 finish? By getting performances from the returning players. Here are five, including Lukas Van Ness.

“I think Lukas can do whatever he wants to do. He can be as good as he wants to be,” new defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington said this week. 

More Green Bay Packers News

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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.