Aaron Rodgers throwing touchdowns to Jimmy Graham should be a very common sight in 2018.
For the Green Bay Packers fans who are still reeling from last year’s dreadful 7-9 season — missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years — they got a joyful sight during Thursday night’s preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lambeau Field.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers only played one drive in the game, but he made the most of it. Rodgers led the Packers all the way down the field, and then connected with his brand new teammate, tight end Jimmy Graham, for an eight-yard touchdown.
Graham then celebrated in the most appropriate way possible. He spiked the football, and then immediately hopped right into the first row of fans for the first “Lambeau Leap” of his career. It’s only the preseason, but Packers fans are hoping that they will be seeing this sight a lot over the next four months, and then deep into January as well.
Seeing Rodgers click with Graham had to be a little extra special though, since the biggest reason for Green Bay’s forgettable season last year was the broken collarbone that kept Rodgers out of action for 11 games. After Rodgers was knocked out, the Packers went just 3-8 to finish the year after a 4-1 start.
Then following the season, longtime Packers receiver Jordy Nelson departed from Green Bay to join the Oakland Raiders, officially marking the end of the “Rodgers-to-Nelson” era that Packers fans have grown to deeply love over the years. But insert the 6-foot-7 Graham, who caught 10 touchdowns for the Seattle Seahawks last year, into the picture and Rodgers might have his new favorite target.
In New England, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have been the most dominant quarterback-tight end duo for much of this decade. But with two elite talents like Rodgers and Graham now wearing the same uniform, the Packers might rival the Patriots in that department in 2018.