The Green Bay Packers lost several starters to injury last season. The injured reserve list didn’t help the win-loss record at the end of the season. With a lack of experienced depth at most positions this season, the Packers hope their starters can stay healthy. One Packers starter isn’t sure how they’ll progress before September with an injury rolling over from last season.
The Packers hinted last week that cornerback Eric Stokes had a ways to go in his recovery. They said he would not be practicing during OTAs as he’s still rehabbing from the injury that caused him to miss the last eight weeks of the 2022 season.
Eric Stokes talks about his rehab timeline with the Green Bay Packers
According to Ryan Wood with USA Today, Stokes said he suffered a torn meniscus and Lisfranc injury last season. Stokes had surgeries for both injuries. He was asked what was different after the surgery:
“Shit, I can walk,” Stokes said.
#Packers CB Eric Stokes says he tore his meniscus last season, which wouldn’t have been too bad, except he also had a Lisfranc injury. Both required surgery, ending his season. What’s different now than then?
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) May 23, 2023
“Shit, I can walk,” Stokes said.
He needed wheelchair after surgery.
That’s not super promising for seeing Stokes on the field any time soon. According to Matt Schneidman with The Athletic, Stokes said he wasn’t sure when he’d return to the field. However, he did not rule out a return date for training camp:
“Stokes said a return for training camp is still on the table, adding, “We still got another two more months until camp and all that stuff, so a lot can be happening until then.”
“If it was just the meniscus, I would have been back probably before the season,” he said. “Who really knows? It’s just really pretty much the foot. The foot’s going to take time. It’s going to take a little minute.”
Packers v. Lions
If it were just the Lisfranc or meniscus, Stokes’s timeline would be better understood. The complications from these injuries will take a little time to heal. The Packers will need their former first-round pick in the secondary this season. So it’s best for the Packers to stay cautious about rushing his return until a later date.
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