The Green Bay Packers are starting 2023’s training camp with a plethora of big names on the PUP list. Wide receiver Jeff Cotton, the “veteran” of the team’s pass catchers, is one of them. Rashan Gary, who is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week Nine last season, is also on the list. Other names on the PUP include Eric Stokes and Grant DuBose, who was drafted in the seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft.
Gary and Stokes, of course, were starters on last year’s defensive unit. Losing them at various points during the season did nothing to help what was otherwise an underwhelming unit. However, they are not the only Week One starters starting training camp on the PUP.
Green Bay Packers Offensive Lineman Jake Hanson Will Begin Training Camp on the PUP List
According to the NFL’s transaction wire, Jake Hanson, a 2020 sixth round pick will also start training camp on the PUP list:
jeff cotton, rashan gary, jake hanson and eric stokes are all being placed on the packers’ physically unable to perform list to begin training camp, per the transaction wire. they can be activated at any time, so don’t panic
— zach jacobson (@itszacharyj) July 21, 2023
Hanson, as fans may recall, started Week One in 2022 against the Vikings due to Elgton Jenkins and David Bakhtiari being unable to play due to their own injuries/rehab.
Hanson did not play well, at all, in 2022. According to PFF, he had a 20.6 pass blocking grade in 50 passing snaps played.
So poor was he in Week one, he only received eight more snaps on the offensive line for the remainder of the season. Three in Week Three and five in Week Six.
Still, losing Hanson is a blow to a position group that frankly lacks quality depth after the immense talent in the starting unit. Green Bay deviated from its norm and did not take any offensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft, meaning they will roll in 2023 with their unit from last season.
The good news is that the starters, led by David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins, were one of the best pass blocking units in the NFL last year. The bad news is that aside from Zach Tom/Yosh Nijman, there really isn’t anyone who one would feel comfortable taking over for an extended period of time.
That includes Hanson, but even someone is better than no one. Hopefully he will not be out long.
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