Rookie quarterback Brett Hundley threw for four scores, Myles White made a case for a spot on the Packers’ injury-stricken receiving corps with two touchdowns, and Green Bay finished the preseason with a 38-10 win Thursday night over winless New Orleans.
Hundley connected with Larry Pinkard on a 77-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass in the third quarter for the Packers (2-2). Pinkard had a highlight-reel play that the roster longshot needed to make an impression with cuts looming, though he later left with an apparent left arm injury in the third quarter.
Coach Mike McCarthy was pleased with the play of his young Packers.
“I reflected, walking off the field, and seeing the smiles in the locker room, and thinking about how these guys improved. The football game in the second half was very impressive,” McCarthy said. “Now the process starts. The next 48 hours is one of the toughest things we have to go through.”
A Saints’ secondary decimated by injuries had an uneven night.
Pinkard’s long touchdown came after safety Pierre Warren slipped and cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste lost a race to the end zone. Cornerback Kyle Wilson had an interception but was called for two penalties.
Willie Snead, vying for a Saints receiver spot, caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Luke McCown on the first New Orleans drive.
McCown started and was 5 of 5 for 82 yards in his only series. Drew Brees was among the many regulars who were held out with the regular season starting in less than two weeks.
Hundley appears ticketed to be the third-string quarterback in Green Bay behind NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and Scott Tolzien, who started on Thursday with Rodgers watching in sweats getting ready for the regular season.
A fifth-round draft pick out of UCLA, Hundley flashed promise for a second straight game in showing zip on his passes while moving the offense effectively. He was 16 of 23 for 236 yards.
Playing without most of its starters for the majority of the game, the Packers defense shut out the Saints after the first quarter. Tay Glover-Wright had an interception.
The regular season begins next week.
“Ready or not, here it comes,” McCarthy said. “We’ll get going on Chicago on Monday. We were able to get some preliminary work done in training camp; that’s a benefit.”
New Orleans 10 0 0 0 — 10
Green Bay 0 10 7 21 — 38
First Quarter
NO: Snead 7 pass from McCown (Hopkins kick), 10:36.
NO: FG Hopkins 21, 2:59.
Second Quarter
GB: FG Crosby 54, 4:56.
GB: Janis 14 pass from Hundley (Crosby kick), :58.
Third Quarter
GB: Pinkard 77 pass from Hundley (Crosby kick), 10:54.
Fourth Quarter
GB: M.White 2 pass from Hundley (Crosby kick), 11:30.
GB: M.White 3 pass from Hundley (Crosby kick), 7:11.
GB: Crockett 15 run (Crosby kick), 2:03.
A — 73,863.
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