The Packers’ Week 6 injury picture is getting uncomfortable, and it’s defense that looks most exposed.
Green Bay already has three players ruled out: nose tackle Jonathan Ford, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, and receiver Skyy Moore. That leaves the Packers scrambling for answers at multiple spots, especially with several key players still listed as questionable.
Those question marks include cornerback Brandon Cisse (hip), defensive tackle Anthony Campbell (ankle), and wide receiver Savion Williams, all of whom could miss the game.
The deepest concern is up front on the defensive line. The Packers’ interior depth has taken hit after hit, with Warren Brinson on injured reserve because of a groin injury and Javon Hargrave out after tearing his Achilles last week against the Chicago Bears. Campbell has been limited most of the year and has played in only one game, and now Ford is unavailable against the Dallas Cowboys.
That leaves Green Bay with just four defensive tackles on the active roster if Campbell cannot go: Campbell, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and rookie Chris McClellan. Jordon Riley is back in practice but still hasn’t been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, and he’s listed as doubtful with an Achilles issue.
The Packers may need somebody off the practice squad to step in if the numbers get any thinner. David Blay Jr. is one possibility, and if Campbell sits, that possibility gets a lot more real.
Cornerback is the other spot that could become a problem in a hurry. Keisean Nixon is expected to play on Sunday, according to head coach Matt LaFleur, after showing up on the injury report earlier in the week. But if Cisse can’t suit up, Green Bay would still be down a starting corner.
That would push Carrington Valentine into a bigger role, likely in some tough matchups. The thought of Valentine facing CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens is enough to make Packers fans wince, and St-Juste being out only adds to the stress because he also helps on special teams. Against the Cowboys’ passing attack, that position group may be the one to watch most closely as kickoff gets near.
The receiving corps is also short on bodies. Williams, who remains on injured reserve, returned to practice in Week 5 but was not active on game day and is still questionable in Week 6. With Moore ruled out and little proven depth behind them, the Packers would welcome Williams back into the rotation.
Still, there’s an argument that Green Bay can survive it if its top guys keep producing. Christian Watson and Matthew Golden have been playing like a premier duo, and if the offense can recreate what it did against Chicago - leaning heavily on Jordan Love throwing to Watson, Golden, and tight end Tucker Kraft - then operating with only four active wideouts may not be a disaster.
That would leave room for Bo Melton or J. Michael Sturdivant to chip in a catch or two.
On the offensive line, the questionable tags feel far less urgent. Aaron Banks (knee/toe) doesn’t look ready to take Laken Tomlinson’s left guard spot unless he truly forces the issue, and Jacob Monk (quad) may not play another snap this season if the Packers can avoid it.
In Other News...
Packers Face A Risky WR Trade Debate As Injuries Keep Mounting
The Packers have steadied themselves lately, but the injury pileup at wide receiver has still left the roster with a familiar question: whether to stand pat or look for help. With the group thinned out, any trade chatter around a receiver feels more relevant than it might have a few weeks ago, especially for a team trying to keep its recent momentum intact while protecting its depth.
One name floating around is a young pass catcher whose NFL start has been uneven, which is exactly why this kind of discussion is tricky. Green Bay can use the conversation as a reminder of how thin the margin is at receiver, but it also has reason to be careful about paying meaningful draft capital for a player who has not yet put it all together. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Face A Sunday Night Test With Plenty To Prove Against Dallas
Sunday night brings a familiar kind of spotlight to Lambeau Field, with the Packers set to host Dallas in a game that ought to say plenty about where this team stands. It is the kind of matchup that invites big-picture questions, and the discussion around it has already turned to how Green Bay can make a statement against a Cowboys team that will demand a clean, physical performance.
The projections for the game lean into that idea, with Green Bays edge rush and ground game viewed as the clearest paths to control. A breakout night from one young pass rusher would go a long way toward changing the feel of the matchup, and the same can be said for a tight end who has already become a steady part of the offense. If the Packers are going to come out on top, they may need both of those elements to show up in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Tough O-Line Decision To Make
Laken Tomlinson has given the Packers something they did not necessarily expect when the left guard spot opened up: steady play and a cleaner pocket for the offense. Through two starts at the position, he has fit in well enough to help stabilize the line, and Green Bay has noticed the difference as it continues to sort out its best five up front.
Now Aaron Banks is back on the practice field, and the timing creates a real decision for the Packers as they get ready for Sunday night against the Cowboys. Banks had been the starter at left guard before the injury, but with Tomlinson holding his own, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich called the choice upon Banks' return an interesting one, which is exactly the kind of competition a team wants even if it leaves a difficult call to make. [Read more 🡒]