The Green Bay Packers’ trip to Arizona for their Week 7 matchup against the Cardinals didn’t go as planned, as their flight to Phoenix was delayed for nearly six hours due to mechanical problems.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team’s original plane was grounded in Wisconsin on Saturday night, forcing players and coaches to wait while a replacement aircraft was brought in from Detroit.
After the long delay, the Packers finally departed and are now on their way to face the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
The Packers’ staff plane took off from Green Bay at 1:15 p.m. CT, while the players and coaches were expected to depart around 1:30 p.m. CT.
Mechanical troubles with their aircraft, however, forced the team to remain on the tarmac for close to six hours, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The delay extended well past five hours before a backup plane was arranged to get the team on its way to Arizona.
According to reports, problems with the second plane were likely discovered only after players and coaches had already boarded.
The replacement aircraft eventually departed at 7:05 p.m. Eastern and was expected to arrive in Phoenix at 9:32 p.m., more than five hours behind the original schedule.
Packers travel troubles
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
The travel hiccup occurs right before an important NFC clash on Sunday, with kickoff slated for 4:25 p.m. ET.
Green Bay (3-1-1) hopes to preserve its slight edge in the NFC North over the 4-2 Detroit Lions.
The Packers are coming off a 27–18 win against the Cincinnati Bengals after their bye week, while Arizona (2-4) looks to snap a four-game losing streak following a 2-0 start.
The Cardinals’ most recent defeat came in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, 31–27.
Travel delays of this magnitude don’t happen often in the NFL, though teams occasionally run into setbacks caused by weather or logistical problems.
Mechanical issues lasting this long, however, are highly unusual.
With the flight from Green Bay to Phoenix taking about three and a half hours, the Packers are expected to arrive late Saturday night, leaving them with minimal rest before kickoff.
Adding to Green Bay’s troubles are a few injury and illness concerns heading into Sunday.
Running back Josh Jacobs and cornerback Keisean Nixon are both questionable after coming down sick, creating some uncertainty about their availability against Arizona.
