The Green Bay Packers are entering a very key stretch of the season – indeed one that will in all likelihood be their most challenging yet.
It is no surprise that Packers may well rue needless losses to the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, alongside a tie with the Dallas Cowboys – but now that the team face the Vikings (twice), Bears (twice), Lions, Ravens and Broncos to finish the year, those dropped games could end up becoming critical “what if” moments of the season.
Given quarterback, JJ McCarthy‘s greater-than-expected growing pains as he adjusts to NFL signal calling, Green Bay will likely consider week 12 their most winnable game for the rest of the regular season – and one in which they are currently 6.5 point favorites, according to the sports books.
Packers Could Be Staring At An Injury Crisis
Yet, unfortunately for the team, things may not end up going as smoothly as the Packers would hope, as a substantial amount of players have ended up on the injury report prior to the weekend’s divisional matchup.
The team had 17 players on the injury report for week 12 – 32%, or almost a third of the entire active roster.
Perhaps even more concerning for Green Bay is that only two players – quarterback Jordan Love and kicker Brandon McManus – were full participants in practice.
Four players did not practice at all; running back Josh Jacobs, cornerback Nate Hobbs, rookie wideout and returner Savion Williams, and defensive tackle Karl Brooks.
The other 11 players, which included All-Pro Micah Parsons and starting right tackle Zach Tom, were limited participants in practice on November 19th.
What Does This Mean For The Packers In Week 12 And Beyond?
A large amount of players on the IR does not necessarily signify that many of them will end up missing the game.
Wide receiver Christian Watson, for example, is still getting his knee back to full, full use – despite having played over the past three weeks – so it figures that he could be a limited participant in practice without there being broad concern for his playing status going forward.
Keisean Nixon, equally, was out with illness – which unless the bout of sickness is very serious will likely mean the team’s #1 corner will play come the Vikings game.
The best news, without question, is that Love was one of the two full participants in training, after the QB had to miss multiple offensive snaps in week 11 due to a shoulder injury.
Although Green Bay will certainly have been calmed by backup quarterback, Malik Willis‘ strong – if perhaps limited – seven snaps in week 11, where he managed to go 2/2 for 6 yards and a passing touchdown, all for a 118.8 passer rating in the game, Love’s presence is critical for the future of the season’s success.
Hopefully for the Packers, the injury report starts to thin as the week goes on.
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