Key Injury Updates for Green Bay Packers ahead of NFC Divisional Round
By Paul Bretl
With the Green Bay Packers playing on Saturday, we received several injury updates on Thursday. As we all know, there are several key players who could be making their return to action.
Matt LaFleur provides key injury updates prior to the Green Bay Packers matchup with the 49ers.
However, let’s get the not-so-good news out of the way first. After exiting the Detroit game with a back injury, Marquez Valdes-Scantling did not practice at all last week, then after being a limited participant on Tuesday, he would miss the next two days of practice and is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game.
Valdes-Scantling brings speed and an element to the deep passing game that no one else on this team can match. It’s not a coincidence that the Green Bay passing attack wasn’t as efficient on deep balls when MVS was sidelined earlier this season. But on top of that, his speed opens up opportunities for his teammates with the attention he draws, and he’s become much more than just a deep threat, making plays on intermediate routes and from the slot as well.
David Bakhtiari has only practiced three times since taking the field in Detroit, including just once this week. As a result, he is listed as questionable. For the most part, Bakhtiari did look like his old self against the Lions, but he was on the field for only 27 snaps.
It’s difficult to gauge whether or not he will play Saturday. On one hand, the lack of practice reps could be concerning. On the other, he is a former All-Pro, and while practice reps are ideal, they aren’t required for him either.
Green Bay will be up against a stout San Francisco pass rush that features Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead. If Bakhtiari can’t go, it will be Yosh Nijman, who started Week 3 against the Niners. Nijman has certainly held up well this season, but the offense gains a whole new level of freedom when it’s Bakhtiari protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blindside.
In addition to Bakhtiari being questionable, so is Jaire Alexander. If Alexander plays, Green Bay will have some difficult decisions to make in the secondary when it comes to playing time.
Does Alexander take over on the boundary? If so, is it Eric Stokes or Rasul Douglas across from him? Or does Green Bay move Alexander to the slot? Regardless of what the Packers choose — and I believe it will be matchup specific — these are good problems to have against a Niner offense that is one of the best in generating YAC.
Jumping back to the offensive line, Billy Turner is expected to play. As I discussed in a recent article, with how well Dennis Kelly has played at right tackle, the Green Bay Packers could choose to keep him as the starter and move Turner to right guard. However, my expectation is that Turner will take back over at right tackle where Rodgers called him a Pro Bowler earlier this season.
In Randall Cobb’s case, Matt LaFleur mentioned earlier in the week that he anticipates that Cobb will play. Although not targeted heavily prior to his injury, Cobb was a very reliable third down and red zone target for Rodgers.
Lastly, is Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus, who are both still on IR. If either is going to play, they will have to be activated off IR by Friday afternoon. With the roster at 53 players if you include Cobb, that means cuts will have to be made as well to make room for Smith and/or Mercilus.
This is a run-first 49ers team that utilizes a wide zone running scheme, meaning it’s going to be vital for the Packer edge rushers to set a strong edge and maintain their gap responsibilities to limit Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel. Also, pressuring Jimmy Garoppolo will likely lead to a turnover opportunity or two as well.
The Green Bay Packers have done a terrific job weathering numerous injuries this season, but now with the playoffs here, it would appear that they are about as healthy as they can be.