Packers injury report: Aaron Rodgers will play, David Bakhtiari is out
By Paul Bretl
The good news for the Green Bay Packers on the injury front for Sunday’s game in Chicago is that Aaron Rodgers will be available. The bad news, however, is that they will again be without David Bakhtiari.
Rodgers’ availability doesn’t come as a surprise, as both he and Matt LaFleur have been fairly direct this week in saying that he is going to play on Sunday. In fact, he was even listed without an injury designation.
When it comes to Bakhtiari, his absence does come out of nowhere and isn’t related to his knee either. Rather, he had emergency surgery Friday on his appendix. Bakhtiari would later tweet that he is doing well.
The last time Bakhtiari missed snaps was in the second half against Detroit. In his place was Zach Tom, so that may be how the Packers choose to handle Sunday’s game as well. According to PFF ($$), Tom has allowed one sack and four pressures in 133 pass-blocking snaps this season.
Fully healthy the last few weeks, the Packers’ offensive line had been playing its best football. This week they’ll be facing a Bears defense that has struggled to generate any sort of consistent pressure. Chicago is also allowing 4.7 yards per carry. As a whole, the Green Bay offense has been finding its groove as of late, scoring 30-plus points in two of the last three games, led by an effective run game, and Christian Watson’s big play ability–which when combined, those two elements have stressed opposing defenses.
Speaking of stressing defenses, the eventual return of Romeo Doubs, who is listed as questionable, will help with that. While Doubs has had some rookie ups and downs, he has come through with some big receptions, particularly against New England and Buffalo, only helping to build that trust with Rodgers. Doubs and Watson have been on the field at the same time for only 52 snaps this season. Together, they will help create opportunities for each other, along with other Packers pass catchers and the run game as well.
In other news, De’Vondre Campbell is also listed as questionable. Campbell’s return would be very welcomed, given that the Packers are again going up against a mobile quarterback in Justin Fields. Last week, Jalen Hurts rushed for 157 yards and left a trail of missed tackles in his dust, with the Green Bay linebackers really struggling in that regard. In addition to worrying about Fields, the Packers also have to contend with David Montgomery, who has been among the best in yards after contact and forcing missed tackles.
Lastly, Darnell Savage is listed as doubtful with a foot injury. On several occasions, Savage has been on the wrong end of a miscommunication in the secondary this season, and it eventually led to him being benched in Philadelphia. In the Packers’ base nickel defense, it was Rudy Ford at safety and Keisean Nixon in the slot. Savage had been relegated to only dime duties.
Oftentimes, practice squad elevations on Saturday will give us some insights into who will be available on Sunday, but the Packers have enough depth on the roster at linebacker and receiver that there likely won’t be any tells. Instead, we will wait for the inactives list, which comes out 90 minutes before kickoff.