The injury churn at the receiver spot is continuing for the Packers, who are badly in need of some offensive answers after having scored just 20 points in their their last two games–both losses–while looking like a shell of the team that scored 28 second-half points in the Week 8 win over Pittsburgh. Tight end Tucker Kraft is out, and without him on the field, the Packers have been disturbingly quiet.
Injuries in the receiving room have not helped. Jayden Reed has been out with a broken collarbone, and Matthew Golden missed last week with a shoulder injury. Two other receivers, Savion Williams and Dontayvion Wicks, were questionable heading into the game but did play.
Things could change against in Week 11 against the Giants in New York. The team made a surprise decision on Saturday afternoon to scratch receiver Malik Heath, who played 20 snaps but did not record a catch in Week 10.
Heath had been active in all nine Packers games, but, the team announced, “WR Malik Heath (coach’s decision) will not travel with the team and will be OUT for tomorrow’s game against the Giants.”
Packers Receivers Getting Healthy
It is possible, then, that the Packers will go into Week 11 with a receiver crew of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, plus Golden, Wicks and Williams. It will mark the first time that all five have been healthy for a game this season.
Reed has been practicing, too, and could return soon.
That’s good news for the Packers as they try to get the offense on track, but it is odd news on Heath. The Packers released no details on what, exactly, is the cause of the team leaving Heath off the traveling party.
Brandon McManus Now Doubtful for Packers
Also on the injury front is kicker Brandon McManus, who has been downgraded to doubtful.
McManus was the security blanket in the Packers 2024 special teams unit, especially after last year’s up-and-down early season that saw Anders Carlson cut and Brayden Narveson flop.
Now, McManus is the wild card, as his quad injury has hampered his consistency and thrown a wrench into the Packers’ kicking game. He was replaced admirably by Lucas Havrisik when he was out in Weeks 6 and 7, but since returning, McManus struggled.
He missed kicks of 44 and 57 yards in his return against Pittsburgh. He missed a 43-yarder against Carolina the following week, in what was a 3-point loss. Against the Eagles, he missed wildly on the final play of the game, a 64-yard try that was doomed from the start.
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