GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The attrition rate for NFL rosters over the course of an 18 week, 17 game regular season is frighteningly high. It’s the nature of the beast in pro football, injuries happen. The 2023 Green Bay Packers certainly have had their share but on the final Thursday practice of the season, even with a whopping 21 names on the injury report, there’s a chance the Packers could play the Chicago Bears with a playoff berth on the line missing only three of their preferred opening day starters and one of them, Rasul Douglas was traded away. All Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari only played in game one down in Chicago back in September and safety Rudy Ford is dealing with a bad hamstring and hasn’t practiced all week.
On offense, Christian Watson has returned to practice after missing a month with his second hamstring pull of the year and is trending toward a return. Rookie tight end Luke Musgrave is still on injured reserve after suffering a lacerated kidney in November but he’s been practicing and Head Coach Matt LaFleur said after practice it’s a realistic possibility of his return. On the defensive side, De’Vondre Campbell has been a full participant all week after sitting out two weeks, telling me his neck feels good. Then there’s Jaire Alexander, past a slow healing shoulder injury and his one game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team has been served. He plans on playing Sunday but a decision hasn’t been announced from the coaching staff.
Two veterans who haven’t practiced all week are still being counted on. Guard Elgton Jenkins has had a lot of time off mid-week since the halfway point of the season and despite getting his legged rolled up on last Sunday night, said he feels good to go. Preston Smith is dealing with an ankle injury but hasn’t missed a game this year, in fact he’s missed just one game in his nine year career, so the Packers are hopeful he’ll be out there.
Talk about getting well at just the right time.
Two key backups are still recovering though. A.J. Dillon’s broken thumb was aggravated last week and he hasn’t practiced. Linebacker Isaiah McDuffie remains in the concussion protocol.
The rest of the limited participants are expected to be available including Aaron Jones, Jonathan Owens, T.J. Slaton and Jayden Reed.
A handful of players were upgraded from limited to full participants, Josh Myers, Keisean Nixon, Quay Walker, Dontayvion Wicks and Zayne Anderson.
Best conversation in the locker room after practice was with wide receiver Bo Melton. He’s still basking in the afterglow after his 6 reception, 106 yard effort with his first NFL touchdown last Sunday night. Melton has finally found his place in the main locker room after getting elevated to the active 53 man roster after Toure was placed on injured reserve. Bo had to be coaxed out of the practice squad locker room where he spent the entire season to field questions from reporters because he’s still too connected to his fellow squad members.
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One more practice before one more very big game but all’s pretty well with the Pack.
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