It was a significant Sunday just a month before a very significant Sunday for the Packers. They returned to the practice field for the first time since a sunrise Saturday return from Santa Clara following their 28-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Pre-Season opener.
Four weeks away from the regular season debut against the Vikings in Minneapolis, three key players finally came off the PUP list leash. Head Coach Matt LaFleur announced before practice Elgton Jenkins, Robert Tonyan and rookie Christian Watson are no longer on the Physically Unable to Perform List. It’s a big step for if any remained on that PUP list when the real games start, they’d be required to miss the first six. Whether they’ll be ready for the first one remains up in the air but at least they can now take part in walk throughs and individual drills with the team.
Matt LaFleur welcomes Eglton Jenkins back to practice.
All three activated players met with reporters after practice. Jenkins is the most remarkable of the trio. He suffered his season ending knee injury in week 11 against the Vikings at US Bank Stadium on November 21. ACL reconstruction recovery is considered a 9 to 12 month proposition but Jenkins returns at the minimum, and it wasn’t easy.
Tonyan’s knee collapsed after making a catch and cut against the Chiefs in Kansas City two weeks before Jenkins went down.
Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis practicing together again.
Tonyan was excited to graduate from the rehab group to the real practice field.
As for Watson, he took part in all of the off-season program but following the last week of organized team activities, he felt something not right with his knee. After consulting with his agent and the team’s medical staff, he decided to undergo an arthroscopic procedure to take care of the issue right away.
Christian Watson finally joins the WR group.
A lot is expected of the Pack’s second round pick from North Dakota State. He’s watched the other two draft choices catch on quickly. Samori Toure with a touchdown catch on Family Night and Romeo Doubs found the end zone in his NFL debut last Friday night. The arrival of veteran Sammy Watkins and the improved play of second year slot receiver Amari Rodgers has put Watson at the back of the line after the first three weeks of camp and he has three weeks to catch up. At least he can finally start making up ground.
The practice was designed for the players who didn’t dress at Levi’s Stadium, there were 33 of them. LaFleur said those who did play got a lot of reps and the long flight home didn’t help. He even joked, “thanks NFL” for having such a long trip in the Pre-Season. The starters got in some good work with a spirited finish to the 75 minute workout. Aaron Rodgers led a two minute drill, connecting on a deep pass to Amari Rodgers and set up a scrambling 4th and goal play in the closing seconds. Moving to his left and under pressure, he sent a back heeled toss to the left corner of the end zone that Aaron Jones sprang up and snatched for the touchdown. His teammates and even offensive players from the sideline mobbed Jones. The offense still needed a two point conversion for the win and Rodgers tried to hit Doubs who made the grab but was a step out of bounds thanks to tight coverage from Rasul Douglas who like Jones, got surrounded by his defensive mates.
New injuries from Friday night included safety Dallin Leavitt who injured his shoulder making a tackle. LaFleur said he could be out a while. Akial Byers sat out with a toe injury, Dominique Dafney (knee), Juwann Winfree (groin), Tariq Carpenter (knee) and Tipa Galeai (elbow) were also sidelined.
Devonte Wyatt returned to practice after being evaluated for a concussion last week and sitting out the Niners game. Remaining in the rehab group were Mason Crosby, Darnell Savage, Innis Gaines, David Bakhtiari, Cole Schneider and Donte Vaughn.
One more injury resulted in a roster move. Rookie kicker Gabe Brkic tweaked his hamstring during warmups Friday night. LaFleur said that explained why they deployed short kickoffs and also was a factor in Brkic’s badly missed field goal from 32 yards away. The team reached an injury settlement with Brkic and have signed 27 year old Ramiz Ahmed to handle placements while Crosby continues to mend.
Mason Crosby chats with new kicker Ramiz Ahmed.
Ahmed is from the University of Nevada where he played one year with Doubs. After going undrafted, he was with the Chicago Bears in the 2020 training camp. This spring he kicked for Pittsburgh in the USFL where he was 14 of 20 on field goals but showed a strong leg with a league record 61 yarder.
The Packers plan a closed walk through practice on Monday before the New Orleans Saints come to town for a pair of joint practices Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30 AM on Ray Nitschke Field before the squads meet at Lambeau Field in Pre-season game number 2 on Friday night.
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