One of the primary goals for the Green Bay Packers during their Bye Week was to get healthy. Injuries have been a major storyline that has dogged the team since the season began. Of course, Christian Watson was unable to play in the first three games due to a hamstring injury. Then, after Week One, Green Bay lost Aaron Jones for a few weeks and David Bakhtiari for the season.
Their bad luck did not stop there. Elgton Jenkins was hurt in Week Two and missed two games. De’Vondre Campbell suffered a high ankle sprain on the first defensive play of the game During Week Three. Jaire Alexander has a back injury that kept him out of the Packers’ game against the Lions, and perhaps limited him against the Raiders. During the Raiders’ game, both Darnell Savage and Quay Walker exited the contest early with injuries.
Of course, Green Bay has been without 2021 first round draft pick Eric Stokes, who suffered a terrible foot fracture last season. They have activated him off of the PUP list and he could return to the field as early as Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Only De’Vondre Campbell Was Unable to Practice for the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, every Packers player that was eligible to practice on Wednesday was able to do so, except for 2021 First Team All-Pro Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell:
Aaron Jones good to go again today. Quay Walker (knee) returned but De’Vondre Campbell did not. Everyone else accounted for. pic.twitter.com/6FatY6tLjn
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 18, 2023
While Campbell was unable to practice today, that does not mean he will be unavailable come Sunday. That being said, high ankle sprains can take four-to-six weeks to fully heal. Given the above-average play of backup linebackers Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie, the Packers can afford to be cautious and conservative with Campbell’s injury.
The Green Bay Packers Offense Will Be at Full Strength (Sort of)
For the first time since Week One, the Packers will presumably be able to trot out all of their preferred starters on offense. Of course, this excludes Bakhtiari and instead includes Rasheed Walker as the starting left tackle.
The most important player on the offense, Aaron Jones, is practicing and appears to be on track to play on Sunday. The dramatic effect he has on the Packers’ offense cannot be understated. In Week One, when Jones was healthy, Green Bay put up 38 points. Since his injury, the Packers’ offense has averaged 19 points per game.
Sure, there are a great many factors that are the reason the offense has been sluggish; but the fact that Jones has been out is one of the biggest contributors. When he gets the ball, good things happen.
Last season, Green Bay was 4-1 when Jones had at least 15 carries in a game. The formula for winning is there for them to follow. The question is if Coach LaFleur will follow it.
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