GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – It seems only the Green Bay Packers can see their injury report grow with just a walk through practice on their only full day of preparation before the Thanksgiving Day rematch with the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Monday’s initial injury report was a non-practice estimation and their were 16 names on the list. After today’s walkthrough, a 17th name was added. Wide receiver Jayden Reed has come down with a chest injury and was considered a limited participant. The team will have another brief walk through tomorrow before flying across the pond as they say for the 11:30 AM CST kickoff.
There was significant good news and surprising bad news on the medical front. Results of the MRI on the knee of running back Aaron Jones revealed no serious damage. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Jones suffered an MCL sprain, is considered week to week, but no surgery will be required.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur expressed relief when getting the news. Jones isn’t a candidate for injured reserve at the moment which would require him to miss a minimum of four games. They’ll let the healing begin.
Eyebrows were raised when rookie tight end Luke Musgrave showed up on Monday’s report with an abdomen injury that wouldn’t have allowed him to practice. Musgrave’s chest landed hard on the ball after a lunging catch against the Chargers but he never came out of the ballgame. Turns out, he also landed in the hospital with what LaFleur said was a serious situation.
LaFleur said the medical staff has a handle on the injury but he wouldn’t disclose the exact nature of the issue and he has since been discharged. So goes another offensive weapon from the game plan which won’t involve Jones, his backup Emmanuel Wilson, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks who is still in the concussion protocol and more than likely Josiah Deguara. The status for several players remained the same. Among those considered limited were Jaire Alexander, Kenny Clark, A.J. Dillon, Rudy Ford, Elgton Jenkins, Keisean Nixon and soon to be off IR, Darnell Savage.
The only upgrades to full participants were Christian Watson Rashan Gary and Corey Ballentine.
The last of the DNP’s surprised at least this reporter with a rare session with the media in front of his locker today. De’Vondre Campbell appears every other week on a local radio show which is about the only public comments he makes. He’s consistently denied interview requests in the locker room and after games. So it was a bit unusual seeing him hold court in front of cameras and microphones. Campbell missed the Detroit, Las Vegas and Denver games with an injury, returning only to suffer a stinger last Sunday against the Chargers. Campbell admitted it’s been a frustrating season for him. He also covered Sunday’s opponent, the play of the defense and the quarterback named Love he’s always really liked.
Was nice to get caught up with Patrick Taylor who returned to Lambeau Field today. The 4th year running back was a practice squad call up for the first three games of the season and was brought onto the active 53 man roster for the Las Vegas game once out of call up options. Patrick was very surprised he was waived the next day. He quickly signed on with the New England Patriots practice squad. The Pats were on their bye week last weekend and Taylor was home with his wife watching the Green Bay-L.A. game on television. He saw both Jones and Wilson go down with those serious injures on the same second quarter series and figured he might be getting a call.
Taylor is the perfect plug and play choice to step in having a complete understanding of the offense he’s spent three years learning. He got a warm welcome back from the likes of Jordan Love and the running backs and wants to make the most of an opportunity before him.
For the second week in a row, Reed has been nominated for the NFC Offensive Rookie of the Week award. Reed caught four passes for 46 yards last week and had three carries for 46 more including a 32 yard touchdown dash, his fifth scoring play of the season.
We also heard from the coordinators today. Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisasscia hated to see Leavitt get cut. “I miss him already”, he said. Bisaccia said Leavitt was instrumental with the implementation of his system and said his leadership was valuable, his effort on teams was contagious.
Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry didn’t want to reflect too heavily on the first meeting with Detroit where the Lions piled up 401 yards, 211 on the ground and put up 27 points by halftime in the 34-20 win at Lambeau Field on September 28. Barry said no extra motivation should be needed for a division opponent.
Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich knows his game plan options for a physical Detroit defense have been trimmed with Jones, Wilson, Musgrave and Wicks almost certain to sit. He said the key to a better performance is to stay on schedule. There were far too many third down and 8 or more yards to go situations to convert in the first meeting. Cleaner execution on early downs will be critical against a unit that’s been hard to run against.
A lot went on during the one day work week.
