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Green Bay Packers 3 Week Window to Activate Josh Myers Now Open

By Paul Bretl

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: Josh Myers #71 of the Green Bay Packers runs on the field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on August 28, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 28: Josh Myers #71 of the Green Bay Packers runs on the field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on August 28, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Slowly but surely, it would appear that the Green Bay Packers are getting healthier.

As Matt LaFleur told reporters, Josh Myers did return to practice on Wednesday, participating in individual workouts, thus opening the three-week window for the Packers to activate him off IR and add him back on to the 53-man roster. If that window passes, Myers will revert to season-ending IR.

Throughout his entire absence, we didn’t know a whole lot about Myers’ knee injury; other than that he was placed on IR, he underwent surgery, and that the expectation was that it wasn’t going to be season-ending—however, there was no timetable for his return.

Prior to suffering the injury in Week 6 against Chicago just four offensive snaps into the game, Myers was the Packers starting center in four of their first five games—he missed the Cincinnati game due to a finger injury.

During that four-game span, Myers had allowed six pressures and no sacks, according to PFF ($$). By run-blocking grade, Myers ranked 20th out of 33 eligible centers during those games.

In Myers’ absence, Lucas Patrick has been the Green Bay Packers starting center.

Although there have been some ups and downs here and there, overall Patrick has fared well—and he’s been playing particularly well as of late.  Patrick has allowed 17 pressures, no sacks, and he ranks fifth among centers in ESPN’s run-block win rate metric this season.

Certainly part of the improved play from the Packers offense as a whole has been the continued development and improved play of the entire interior offensive line unit.

Upon Myers’ return — if it happens — the Green Bay Packers will have some decisions to make along the offensive line. Do they stick with the hot-hand and veteran Patrick, or put the promising Josh Myers back at center for the playoff run? And even though Royce Newman has been playing much better as of late, would Green Bay put Patrick at right guard, where he started for most of the 2020 season?

All of these questions will be answered at a later date, but for the time being, the good news is that Myers is back at practice and the Packers are continuing to get healthier with the playoffs right around the corner.

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