Packers vs. Rams Final Injury Report: What to Know
By Paul Bretl
The final injury report for the Green Bay Packers continues to shrink. This week, ahead of their matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, only Rudy Ford (calf) and Quay Walker (groin) are listed as questionable.
Ford had a calf injury pop-up midweek that left him limited on Thursday and out of Friday’s practice. Ford has provided some stability to the safety position for the Packers, which was one of the biggest question marks coming into the season. Ford has been praised by both Matt LaFleur and Ryan Downard for his pre-snap communication and has been a sound tackler, and simply positioned well to make plays on the ball or pass-catcher.
If Ford can’t go, the Packers will find themselves incredibly thin at safety with Darnell Savage already on IR. This would leave Green Bay with Jonathan Owens – who took some lumps against Minnesota – Anthony Johnson, Zayne Anderson, and Dallin Leavitt as safety options.
”It doesn’t matter if he’s ready or not,” said LaFleur about Johnson potentially getting the start. “It’s next man up. So we will see. We’ve got some options there in terms of who we play.”
It’s unknown if Matthew Stafford is going to play for the Rams, but even without him, LA has a trio of receivers in Cooper Kapp, Puka Nacua, and Tuta Atwell, who can cause issues for the Green Bay secondary, especially with their also questions at cornerback right now.
Walker also popped up on the injury report late in the week. After being a full participant on Wednesday and Thursday, Walker missed Friday’s practice.
“Just came in feeling tight today,” said LaFleur about Walker’s practice status. “He did not practice.”
After just getting healthy at the linebacker position with De’Vondre Campbell returning last week, Walker’s status is now questionable. When Campbell was sidelined, Isaiah McDuffie started alongside of Walker.
The Green Bay linebackers are going to have to be active in trying to slow the Rams passing game, specifically muddying things up over the middle, with Nacua and Kupp often being targeted within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. In the run game, the Rams are averaging 4.2 yards per rush.
Of note, Aaron Jones, Jaire Alexander, Elgton Jenkins, Luke Musgrave, and Yosh Nijman, all of whom were listed on the injury report this week, do not have injury designations.
“He looked good,” said LaFleur in regards to how Jones looked at practice this week. “He had a good week. He had a great attitude, and ready to cut him loose.”