The Green Bay Packers are heading into Week Eight at 2-4. While there have been many reasons for the team’s poor start, injuries to important players have not helped matters. One of the most impactful injures the team has been the high ankle sprain that All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell suffered at the beginning of the Week Three win over the New Orleans Saints.
The injury has kept Campbell out for the Packers’ last three games. With the team having lost all three games in which he missed, they are desperately searching for a spark, both on offense and defense.
Good news came on Wednesday when multiple Packers beat writers reported that Campbell returned to practice, drastically increasing his chances to play against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
The Green Bay Packers Get De’Vondre Campbell Back at Practice
There were multiple players whose practice status was questionable going into Wednesday that were spotted at practice today. Campbell is the most notable of them:
#Packers ILB De’Vondre Campbell returned to practice from his ankle injury today. He had company. Jaire Alexander, Christian Watson and Elgton Jenkins all practiced. Aaron Homes stretched but did not participate in individual drills.
Eric Stokes did not practice.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) October 25, 2023
Campbell, of course, is one of the team’s best players and a leader in the locker room. Prior to getting injured at the very beginning of the Saints’ game, Campbell had amassed 22 tackles in just two games. In the Packers’ Week Two loss to the Atlanta Falcons alone, Campbell had 14 total tackles.
One of the Packers’ biggest weaknesses on defense is stopping the run, and getting Campbell back is going to go a long way in improving that aspect of their unit. According to PFF, Campbell has the second-best run defense grade on the team (74.9). Only Preston Smith (75.8) has a high run defense grade.
Additionally, Campbell has the second-highest tackling grade on the team (80.3). Only safety Rudy Ford (81.7) has a higher tackling grade.
Interestingly, Campbell’s fellow starting linebacker, Quay Walker, has the third-highest tackling grade on the team (80.1). With Campbell back, Green Bay will boast two of the best tackling linebackers in the NFL.
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