Marcedes Lewis’ availability is a must for Packers offense against Bucs

Marcedes Lewis is one of several players listed on the Green Bay Packers injury report for Sunday’s game. If he’s unable to go, his absence will be a major hurdle for the Packers to overcome.

After playing 31 snaps against Chicago, eight more than he had the previous week, Lewis popped up on Wednesday’s injury report with a groin injury. He is now listed as questionable.

This is a Packers offense that has a very difficult challenge this week with facing a Buccaneers defense that is one of the best in the NFL. So far this season, the Bucs have allowed just 13 total points, and as you’d expect, they rank among the best in several key categories.

While it won’t be easy, finding success on the ground for this Packers offense is going to be a must.

For starters, the Packers are already without Sammy Watkins, and we don’t know if they will have either Randall Cobb or Christian Watson. This Tampa Bay pass defense has also been very good, ranking first by DVOA, and the defense as a whole generates a lot of pressure.

We’ve seen what can happen to this Green Bay offense when the running game is stifled or they fall behind early, with Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur becoming pass-happy and one-dimensional. On Sunday, against this Bucs’ defense, that is a recipe for disaster.

Now, this doesn’t mean that running the ball against the Tampa front-seven will be easy–it’ll actually be far from that. But again, it’s a must, as it will help open up the passing game, allow LaFleur to dial up more as a play-caller, and the Bucs’ defensive front won’t be able to pin their ears back.

Of course, a successful run game starts with winning in the trenches, and an extension of that is Lewis, who is, more often than not, out there like a sixth offensive lineman.

According to PFF ($$), 44 of Lewis’ 54 offensive snaps this season have come as a blocker, including 35 as a run-blocker. Out of 53 eligible tight ends, Lewis ranks ninth by PFF’s run-blocking grade. Meanwhile, as a ball carrier, Aaron Jones is averaging 8.25 yards per rush when outside the tackle box.

However, it’s not only the run game where Lewis’ presence will be felt but helping out the Packers’ offensive tackles in pass protection as they face Shaquil Barrett and a Bucs’ defense that loves to blitz.

The inactives list comes out about two hours before kickoff, and we will see then if Lewis will be suiting up. The Packers offense already has a tall task ahead of them against this Bucs defense, but things become all the more difficult if they are without Lewis.