Green Bay Packers Week 2 Stock Report

There were many solid performances by Green Bay Packers players against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. 

There were also more than a few very bad performances. 

In the first regular-season iteration of the weekly stock report, we take a look at which players helped their cause in Week 1 and which players would probably like a do-over.

While there may not be immediate consequences in store for players who had less than stellar showings—no one is getting cut, and most starting positions are solidified—it's worth tracking performances through the season as players come up for possible increased snap counts or even contract extensions.

Here is a breakdown of the five players whose stocks are rising and falling heading into Week 2.  

Falling: CB Sam Shields

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Who was the player wearing No. 37 for the Packers against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, and what did he do with Sam Shields?

Anyone watching the game could see Shields struggled against Chicago and made unacceptable mistakes, such as an offside penalty that put six points on the board for the Bears rather than three.

But it's worthwhile to drill down further to try to figure out exactly why Shields had such an uncharacteristically poor showing and whether it will follow him into the Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

First, it was obvious the Bears' game plan centered around Shields. He was mismatched in run support against Matt Forte, and the Bears knew it. Shields did well on plays he would typically excel in and that mesh well with his skill set, such as when he broke up a pass to Alshon Jeffery in the end zone.

But Shields' poor performance on Sunday was a combination of the Bears getting the best of him with their game plan and a jumpiness on Shields' part, who occasionally tried to freelance rather than sticking to his assignment. 

Seattle has fewer offensive weapons to cover than Chicago but can be deadly in the run game. Let's hope Shields has settled down and gets enough help from his secondary (perhaps with the return of safety Morgan Burnett?) to improve his stock next week.  

Rising: NT B.J. Raji

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Sept. 13 marked B.J. Raji's first NFL game since Jan. 5, 2014, and it had been even longer since the defensive tackle played at the nose. He was coming off a rehab period for the torn biceps he suffered in an exhibition game, and it was unclear whether he'd ever reach his former level of play. 

But Raji's performance against the Bears on Sunday was a positive jump in the right direction. A more svelte Raji was quick and decisive in Green Bay's win, helping anchor a defensive front that was missing talent both on the line and in the linebackers corps. 

Though the run defense as a whole was leaky, Raji graded out as one of the Packers' best players against the run Sunday by Pro Football Focus. It was on the outside where Chicago running back Matt Forte was able to burn Green Bay's run defense; through the middle, Raji was just fine. 

He also had a big third-down sack of Jay Cutler in the red zone and two quarterback hurries. The return of Letroy Guion after Week 3 can only help Raji's stock continue to rise, as he gets more help on his other side.

Falling: OLB Nick Perry

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In his first game of the season, linebacker Nick Perry didn't do a lot to convince the Packers they should have activated the fifth-year option on his contract. 

In not doing so, the Packers essentially made this season a prove-it year for Perry, but the only thing he proved on Sunday against the Chicago Bears was that he's still struggling to produce on the field. 

Perry earned the worst grade of any Packers defensive player overall by Pro Football Focus. He was also the worst pass-rusher—not ideal for an outside linebacker.

As Pro Football Focus analyst Bryan Hall pointed out, though Perry had two quarterback hurries, he got help from the Bears on both of them. 

It's no coincidence that young outside linebackers Jayrone Elliott and Andy Mulumba both earned spots on the final roster. Green Bay is preparing for the future at the position, and if Perry doesn't step it up in the coming weeks, that future may not include him. 

Rising: WR James Jones

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When general manager Ted Thompson broke character to go after a veteran free agent and re-sign former Packers wideout James Jones, expectations were reasonable.

Though most recognized the value in adding a veteran presence to mitigate the loss of Jordy Nelson, Jones was coming in as the No. 3 receiver behind Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. His production was expected to be on par with his position. 

Well, if Week 1 against the Chicago Bears was any indication, Jones is picking up right where he left off, setting himself up to be Rodgers' biggest scoring target in 2015. 

Jones caught three touchdown passes in Chicago, though one of them was negated by a David Bakhtiari holding penalty. In addition to the other two touchdown receptions that did stand, Jones had four receptions for 51 yards. 

As for his relationship with Rodgers, all the chemistry and trust the two shared before Jones' departure from Green Bay appears to be intact. 

Jones got a look from Rodgers on the field against the Bears that would have been imperceptible to a casual observer, but he knew exactly what it meant. 

"Yeah, he gives you a double look and you know that there's a chance you're going to have an opportunity to get the ball," Jones told Fox Sports' Mike Garafolo after the game. "It feels like I've been gone for 10 years, but I've only been gone for a year, so I do know a lot of the things he's trying to do and a lot of the signals. The chemistry comes back real fast."

If he keeps up this pace, Jones could see his stock continue to rise for weeks to come. 

Falling: LB Sam Barrington

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers got some bad news they really didn't need this week: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to share Tuesday that the Packers believe starting inside linebacker Sam Barrington is lost for the season because of his recurring ankle injury. 

Barrington left the Week 1 game against the Chicago Bears early because of reaggravating the injury, causing Nate Palmer to start in his place and keeping Clay Matthews inside on more snaps.

But even before the injury, Barrington was having a rough day in the middle. He was beat in coverage multiple times, allowing the Bears to convert on third down.

In addition to obviously bringing Barrington's own stock down, losing him for the season brings the stock of the entire run defense down.

Palmer, who will now have to start, is still playing with a protective covering over his hand. It will be tough for Matthews to move to the edge in pass-rushing situations given the new responsibilities he'll have inside. Rookie Jake Ryan would benefit from more development before being thrown into the fire, as it were. 

Green Bay's personnel plan this offseason that included waiting until Round 4 to draft an inside linebacker and not signing any in free agency was predicated on a healthy, starting Barrington. Now, the Packers have a big decision to make. 

Advanced stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus.