With the Green Bay Packers’ 53-man roster now set and attention turning to the regular season opener against the Detroit Lions, it was a day of positive developments on the injury front for Green Bay.
Several key starters who have been out with injuries during parts of training camp returned to the practice field on Wednesday.
Xavier McKinney, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks were all in action as they continue to work their way back from their assorted injuries.
McKinney had taken part in practice in a limited capacity last week as he recovers from a calf injury, while Banks and Jenkins returned after nursing back injuries.
Reed had been dealing with a foot issue which required him to be in a walking boot, while Wicks had not practiced since late July with a calf problem.
The Packers only had four players not practicing on Wednesday: Nate Hobbs (knee), Zayne Anderson (knee), Savion Williams (hamstring) and Barryn Sorrell (knee).
Meanwhile, quarterback Jordan Love was able to take snaps under center as he ramps up from surgery on the thumb of his non-throwing hand, which cost him a few days of practice and forced him to take snaps off a stool last week.
Speaking with the media before practice, both general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur provided updates on Green Bay’s various injuries.
Banks has been working through a back injury throughout training camp, but LaFleur was cautiously optimistic about both he and Jenkins.
He said: “I think backs are always one of those things that are always a problem if they flare up on you. You never quite know, but I feel pretty good about where we are with those guys right now. Both those guys looked great yesterday (at Green Bay’s closed practice).”
LaFleur confirmed Love should have no restrictions going forward, while Gutekunst said of his thumb surgery: “That was a tough decision he made, but I think it was the right one.”
With Love, Wicks, Reed, Williams and Romeo Doubs all dealing with injuries at some point, the Packers’ pass catchers have lost a lot of practice time which could have been used to build chemistry ahead of the new season.
On the injuries, Gutekunst said: “Between our receivers and (Love) being nicked up, we certainly haven’t had the amount of work that we would’ve liked, but there’s a lot of trust there with him as far as getting himself ready to play Week 1.”
In terms of the other injuries, Gutekunst was quizzed on whether Reed and Hobbs will be ready in time for Green Bay’s week one matchup with Detroit, to which he answered: “I’m very hopeful for that, and I think they’re trending the right way, but we’ll see.”
LaFleur was asked whether Reed, Wicks and Hobbs are going to be available for the first regular season game and simply said: “I hope so.”
Gutekunst also explained the plan for Collin Oliver – the Packers’ fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft who has not been able to practice all summer – going forward into the season.
Oliver is currently on the PUP list and will miss at least four games. On his injury, Gutekunst said: “The timing of that was really tough on him. He was starting to get to the point where he could get out there and do some things in practice for us.
“As a rookie player, let’s give him the time to really get healthy and then hopefully at a point in the season we can open up the practice window and let him get those practices under his belt so he can help us.
“I’m still very optimistic he can help us not only this year but hopefully in the future as well.”
It can put rookies in a tough spot when they miss so much time during their first training camp, and limit their chances of having any impact in year one, but Gutekunst expressed optimism Oliver could still be activated to the 53 at some stage and contribute as a rookie.
He explained: “Because of his athleticism and speed he can play multiple roles not only on defense but on special teams as well, so I think there’s a way that he can help us whether that’s special teams or even on defense.”
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers injury updates: 5 starters return to practice ahead of season opener vs Lions
Reporting by Mark Oldacres, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
