The Green Bay Packers can clinch the NFC North tomorrow with a win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, for their part, sit atop a tight AFC North. Green Bay came out of their Bye Week last week with high hopes of having some key players back from injury. Unfortunately, that was not entirely the case and the injuries have continued to pile up. The Packers will bring a makeshift offensive line into the trenches on Sunday afternoon due to the plethora of injuries they have suffered. Read on to find out more about who is in and who is out for the Packers this weekend.
Questionable
Wide receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Malik Taylor are questionable to play tomorrow. MVS is dealing with a back injury while Taylor suffered an abdominal injury last week. Both players were limited participants in practice all week.
MVS has been battling through some injuries all season, having played in eight of the team’s 13 games. He has started six of those eight games. The fourth-year receiver is currently third on the team with 329 receiving yards this season. While this does not sound like a whole lot, one has to look at the larger picture to understand why his numbers are down from last year. For much of the first part of this season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers had trouble getting the ball downfield accurately. This aspect of his game has improved as the season has gone on. Over the last three weeks, MVS has 193 of his 329 receiving yards.
Here’s another little fun fact: after having an 11.1% drop rate last season, MVS has a current drop rate of 0%. He has not dropped a pass all year.
Malik Taylor has not seen much of the field this season. Last week, a kick return blunder may have even cost him reps at that job, too. While he will likely be able to play on Sunday, it is hard to see him getting much action behind Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and MVS.
Doubtful
Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown is doubtful for the Packers game versus the Ravens due to a concussion suffered last week. The third-year pro has just six receptions for 62 yards on the season, but is easily one of the best special teams players the Packers have. Knowing just how bad the special teams have been this year, this is an injury that could really hurt the Packers on Sunday.
I am not going to pretend to be smart enough to understand DVOA, but I do know that being dead last in it is bad and being first is good. The Packers are going to have their work cut out for them with one of the best special teams units in the NFL on Sunday. Let’s hope Mason Crosby can get some kickoffs into the endzone.
Out
David Bakhtiari, Jaire Alexander, Za’Darius Smith, Billy Turner, Elgton Jenkins, and Dominique Dafney all headline the list of players that will not be able to play on Sunday. Bakhtiari has been out all year as he is recovering from ACL surgery. Alexander is making progress to be back on the field, but will not be ready to go this week. He did return to practice for individual drills this past week though. Za’Darius Smith, too, has returned to practice, but will not play this weekend.
Billy Turner suffered a knee injury similar to the one that kept Aaron Jones out for a game earlier this season. The Packers are unclear on when he will be able to return. Thankfully, it was not a torn ACL has was initially feared.
Other Injury Updates
- Aaron Rodgers did not participate in practice at all this week. The three-time MVP is still dealing with a broken toe. He is going to play on Sunday.
- Kenny Clark has tested positive for COVID-19. He has an outside chance of being able to play if he is asymptomatic and tests negative before the game. Coach Matt LaFleur told reporters, however, that he does not expect Clark to be able to go on Sunday.
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