After an excellent first week to kick off the 2025 NFL season, the league is hoping for an even better sequel in Week 2. Thankfully, to get things started, the Thursday Night Football clash promises to be an epic battle between two titans. As potential Super Bowl contenders, both the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Commanders will be looking to get the early-season advantage.
Coming off dominant Week 1 showings, only one team is going to become the first one to hold a 2-0 record in the NFC. Two young quarterbacks, Jayden Daniels and Jordan Love, will shoulder a huge burden. But as has increasingly become the focus of fans watching the game, the referee assignment is going to be a critical one for the league, particularly on the first Amazon Prime broadcast of the season in a standalone setting.
Referees Assigned for Commanders vs. Packers
When the Commanders travel to Green Bay for a heavyweight clash between the two teams, it will have the attention of the entire NFL universe. It is a chance for the Packers to build on the past two years with Jordan Love, combined with the league-altering Micah Parsons trade.
For Washington, the turnaround has been far more swift and immediate. But after a trip to the NFC Championship Game in his rookie campaign, Daniels and the rest of the organization will be looking to one-up their performance.
Thanks to both squads’ dominating blowouts in Week 1, the referees did not become a major part of the conversation, unlike in matches like the Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings.
But, with two evenly matched teams facing off in a bid to ascend to the upper echelons of the NFL, a close game and fireworks could very well be on our hands. As a result, the league is choosing to go with the experience of Brad Rodgers and his crew.
A Texas native, he began his career as an official in high school games in 1991. It wasn’t until 2017 that he got the nod from the NFL, as he joined Pete Morelli and Shawn Smith’s crews as a side umpire.
Referee for Commanders at Packers @NFLonPrime — Brad Rogers
https://t.co/gWZXZCZeFV #WASvsGB pic.twitter.com/iFvwCwu8OJ— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs🇺🇦 (@footballzebras) September 9, 2025
Two years later, he was promoted to the referee slot, and he’s now entering his eighth season at the position. His crew for the 2025 season looks like this:
- Umpire: Bryan Neale
- Down Judge: Patrick Turner
- Line Judge: Kevin Codey
- Field Judge: Joe Blubaugh
- Side Judge: David Meslow
- Back Judge: Greg Yette
- Replay Official: Denise Crudup
- Replay Assistant: Brian Smith
