Packers Fall To Chiefs 17-7 In Preseason Finale, But Joe Callahan, Jared Abbrederis Shine

The Green Bay Packers took the field Thursday hoping to finish the preseason 4-0, but the team instead suffered a loss that allowed them to evaluate the back half of the roster.

Packers Fall To Chiefs 17-7 In Preseason Finale

The Packers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7 in Thursday’s preseason finale at Arrowhead Stadium, although rookie quarterback Joe Callahan ended a strong preseason by throwing for 143 yards and one touchdown.

“I thought it was a quality training camp. I thought like we accomplished a lot,” said Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, who like Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid played almost entirely backups on Thursday night.

Callahan, 23, played nearly the entire game, which featured second and third-teamers on both sides. The Division III Wesley College QB has been attempting to earn the No. 3 spot behind Aaron Rodgers and Brett Hundley, the latter of whom has been sidelined by an ankle injury this preseason.

“You try not to think about things too much,” Callahan said of making the team. “When it’s out of your hands it’s always hard. But I’ve been confident since I’ve been here.”

Callahan ended the first quarter 6/8 for 49 yards and a touchdown, but ended the half with 11/17 for 121 yards. The rookie completed the biggest play of the first half when he connected with Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Jared Abbrederis for a 40-yard gain. Shortly after that, Callahan threw to Casey Pierce moving downfield, but Pierce dropped the ball in a close call that was ruled a fumble all the way through the replay.

Following Kansas City’s third consecutive three-and-out in the first quarter, Dustin Colquitt’s punt was blocked by Packers wide receiver Ty Montgomery, a 23-year-old out of Stanford. Green Bay then merely needed two plays for Callahan to hit tight end Jared Cook for the game’s first touchdown.

Packers punter Jacob Schum made his debut on Thursday after being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay this week. Schum replaced veteran punter Tim Masthay in a surprising roster move.

“The coaches didn’t want to fill my head too much,” said Schum, who punted eight times for a 45.5-yard average with a long of 57 and three inside the 20. “But we’re professionals and we’re kind of expected to know how to do things.”

Kyler Fackrell, a 24-year-old former Utah State linebacker, led all defensive players with tackles and solo tackles, and also had one sack. Fackrell was selected by the Packers as a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Chiefs running back Knile Davis ran 15 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. The former third-round draft pick also caught a pass out of the backfield.

“I just wanted to have a clean game, you know?” Davis said. “I wanted to hit my holes, catch a couple of balls, and just fine-tune.”

Darrin Reaves also had 63 yards rushing and a touchdown for Kansas City (2-2).

KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 01: Quarterback Joe Callahan #6 of the Green Bay Packers passes as Ramik Wilson #53 of the Kansas City Chiefs defends during the preseason game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 1, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena