Who says the 2022 Green Bay Packers can’t catch a break?
Turns out they got a big one way back on October 9. That’s when the disastrous trip to London ended with a snap. For the first time today, November 23, Aaron Rodgers admitted to reporters that he broke his thumb on the final play of that 27-22 loss to the New York Giants at Tottenham Stadium when he tried to unleash a hail mary pass only to smash his right thumb in the process. The Packers have won but a single game since and head to Philadelphia after the Thanksgiving Day holiday in need of another one to keep the faintest of faint playoff hopes alive. The team got back on the practice field for the first time since last Thursday night’s loss to the Tennessee Titans which dropped them to 4-7 on the year.
Rodgers did participate and threw the ball with his right thumb taped up and tape recorders were rolling in the locker room afterwards when Aaron confirmed the broken thumb which set off a series of questions beginning with, ever play with a busted thumb before?
Rodgers doesn’t think the thumb is behind the unusually high number of missed passes since the return from England. He said he was in pretty good pain against the Cowboys but went 14 of 20 with three touchdowns in the overtime victory. There was never a dispute with the medical staff over his ability to play and be effective since the break and he plans to finish out the season under center. Surgery won’t be needed after the season either as time will eventually have the thumb heal on it’s own.
Now that the MVP medical mystery has been solved, the mini-bye weekend didn’t do all that much to heal the rest of the squad. 16 players were listed on the initial injury report but a handful have come down with an illness, possibly a touch of the flu is swirling about the locker room.
David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Romeo Doubs and De’Vondre Campbell were the healing non-participants. Campbell told a Green Bay radio station that he suffered a bruised knee cap a month ago, forcing him to miss the last three games. He has started running and won’t rule out a return Sunday night against the Eagles. Rudy Ford, Rasheed Walker and Tariq Carpenter stayed home because of that illness. Randall Cobb was a limited participant and Mason Crosby a full participant even with the illness. Others who were limited were Shemar Jean-Charles who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, Aaron Jones, Allen Lazard and Rodgers.
Quay Walker and Jaire Alexander made the injury report but fully participated.
Caleb Jones returned to the fold for the first time in nearly two months. The offensive tackle has been on the Non-Football Injury list.
It was an unseasonably warm November day for the work on Clarke Hinkle Field with temperatures climbing into the mid-40’s.
The Packers also made a couple of roster moves, cutting running back Patrick Taylor. The undrafted free agent spent the last two seasons with the team, off and on the practice squad, appearing in 17 games total. His release leaves the team with only Jones and A.J. Dillon as running backs on the 53 man roster although they do have rookie Tyler Goodson on the practice squad.
The team has also reportedly claimed on waivers, linebacker Justin Hollins, recently released by the Los Angeles Rams. Hollins was a 5th round pick of Denver in 2019 but over the last three seasons, appeared in 49 games, 34 with the Rams, recording seven career sacks. With Rashan Gary done for the year with a torn ACL, the defense hasn’t been able to find someone to pick up the pressure slack.
The team will work on the holiday Thursday as usual but Head Coach Matt LaFleur is mindful of those with families, pushing up the schedule a bit for an earlier exit.
Can’t say the same for me, I’m spending the day with family and will post by Packers-Eagles preview story heading into the weekend.
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