The Packers got a welcome break on the injury front this week, and it came at the right time for a defense trying to get its pieces together before the season ramps up.
Javon Hargrave, who had been sitting on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, is moving back toward the field. Head coach Matt LaFleur gave the encouraging news, and Weston Hodkiewicz reported it this way: “LaFleur says Javon Hargrave is off PUP & is among the players who'll return to practice today,” Hodkiewicz wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
That matters for Green Bay. Hargrave arrived in free agency on a two-year deal after spending last season with the Minnesota Vikings, and he brings real production to the line.
In 16 games last year, he started 15 of them and finished with 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. With Micah Parsons still rehabbing from his ACL injury, Hargrave’s return gives the Packers another important body up front as they sort through the early part of camp.
Parsons, for his part, is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season. He did offer his own update recently, though, and even pointed to Week 6 against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, as a possible target.
“Is it possible? Yes, so I wouldn’t say it’s not possible,” Parsons said. “At the same time, in the next 10, 12 weeks from now, we’ve got to make it possible by putting the work in.”
That kind of timeline would be a major lift for Green Bay if it holds. It also gives the Packers a chance to build some momentum early, so Parsons wouldn’t have to rush back and carry too much right away.
Even with the injury issues, the expectation around the Packers remains high. They’re projected to be one of the stronger teams in the NFC again, and the roster has enough talent on both sides of the ball to stay in the mix.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Have A Veteran Tight End Option At The Right Time
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Zach Ertz suddenly fits that profile. The veteran tight end is coming off ACL rehab, has been cleared for football activities and is interested in another season, which makes him a natural name to watch for a Packers team looking for depth and reliability. If Green Bay decides to add him, Ertz would bring a proven presence to a spot that has needed it. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Add Receiver As Injuries Suddenly Test Their Depth
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Johnson is no stranger to the organization, having spent time on the Packers practice squad before returning for another look. He also brings college experience from Alabama State and Western Kentucky, giving Green Bay a familiar option at a position where even a few missing players can change the evaluation picture in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Camp Injuries Are Suddenly Hitting Two Key Position Battles
Green Bays preseason work kept rolling Sunday inside the teams indoor facility, with practice closed to the public but open to the media a couple days after Family Night. The session brought a welcome development on the health front, as running back Chris Brooks and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave both came off the physically unable to perform list and got back on the field, a useful step for two players whose availability matters in crowded summer competitions.
The receiver room, though, is starting to feel the strain of camp injuries. The Packers responded by bringing back Kisean Johnson while waiving cornerback Marlon Jones with an injury designation, a roster shuffle that underscores how quickly one position can get stretched thin when bodies start to go down. Several other players are still either on the PUP list or sitting out practice, so the next few days will matter for anyone trying to carve out a role before the reps tighten. [Read more 🡒]