The Green Bay Packers got back on the field Sept. 9 with their Week 1 prep underway for a season-opening NFC North road trip to face the Minnesota Vikings, and the injury picture was pretty manageable.
Only two players on the active 53-man roster were kept out of the full-padded practice: defensive tackle Warren Brinson and linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper.
Brinson has been sidelined by a calf injury he picked up during warmups before the second preseason game against the Denver Broncos. Hopper’s issue wasn’t immediately clear, though he was working off to the side in rehab during the media viewing portion of practice. The team’s later injury report was expected to offer more detail on his status.
On the offensive side, the Packers had both Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks out there with the line group, though neither was being pushed full speed. Bako-Bewele, the standout right tackle, is still ramping up after offseason knee surgery to repair a partially torn patellar tendon. Matt LaFleur said he would be limited as he works his way toward the opener.
Banks was also taking part with the line after battling knee tendinitis that cost him time in camp. LaFleur said he, too, would be limited, but added that if he’s healthy enough to go, he’ll start at guard in Week 1.
"We're just going to take it one day at a time and see where they're at," he said on Banks and Bako-Bewele. "Hopefully, we can build on that throughout the course of the week."
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The part that will stand out most to Packers fans is what Kraft chose not to do before he ever reached the NFL. During college, he passed on a transfer opportunity to Alabama and stayed at South Dakota State, a decision that helped define the path he took to Green Bay. Now, with a potential extension expected and his future with the Packers coming into focus, that same kind of loyalty looks like it could pay off again. [Read more 🡒]
