The Green Bay Packers are limping into a critical Saturday showdown with the Chicago Bears, and the injury report reads more like a MASH unit than a playoff hopeful gearing up for a divisional clash.
Josh Jacobs Re-Aggravates Knee Injury
Let’s start with the headline: Josh Jacobs, the Packers’ lead back, re-injured his knee during Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. The play?
A toss sweep that also saw tight end Josh Whyle suffer a concussion. That’s two key offensive players knocked out on the same snap-a brutal moment in a game that’s already taken a toll on Green Bay’s depth chart.
Jacobs didn’t participate in Tuesday’s walkthrough, and head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the team is easing into the week with a modified practice schedule. With only six days between games, recovery is the name of the game. But Jacobs’ status is very much up in the air, and considering he’s also dealing with an ankle issue, it wouldn’t be surprising if this one goes down to the wire.
Injury List Piling Up
Jacobs isn’t alone on the sideline. The Packers listed the following players as non-participants:
- RB Josh Jacobs (knee/ankle)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd (calf/hamstring)
- WR Christian Watson (chest/shoulder)
- WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle)
- TE Josh Whyle (concussion)
- RT Zach Tom (back/knee)
- DE Micah Parsons (knee)
- DE Lukas Van Ness (foot)
- S Evan Williams (knee)
The big blow here is Micah Parsons, who’s dealing with an ACL tear-LaFleur confirmed that’s the one injury that’s not a game-time decision. Everyone else? Still in play, depending on how the week unfolds.
But if you’re counting, that’s two running backs, two wide receivers, a tight end, a starting right tackle, two defensive ends, and a safety all sidelined. That’s a significant chunk of the roster, and the timing couldn’t be worse.
Running Back Depth Tested
With Jacobs and Lloyd out, and another back estimated as limited, the Packers are down to just one fully healthy running back on the 53-man roster: Emanuel Wilson. Practice squad back Pierre Strong Jr. is also in the mix, but that’s a razor-thin margin heading into a game where ball control could be crucial.
Offensive Line Shuffle
Zach Tom’s back and knee issues put his availability in question, and that means Darian Kinnard could be next man up at right tackle. Problem is, Kinnard is now dealing with a neck injury himself.
If both are out, the Packers may have to turn to Jordan Morgan, who’s mostly rotated at right guard this season before being replaced by rookie Anthony Belton. That’s a lot of moving parts on an offensive line that needs stability-especially with a banged-up backfield behind it.
Defensive Depth Being Tested
On the defensive front, Lukas Van Ness didn’t participate in Tuesday’s walkthrough, despite seeing increased snaps last week following Parsons’ injury. That opens the door for Brenton Cox Jr., who’s currently in his 21-day practice window after returning from injured reserve. Cox was estimated as a full participant, and with the Packers running thin on edge rushers, he could be activated just in time to play a significant role.
Another name to watch is Collin Oliver, who’s also in his practice window but remains limited. If Cox is ready and Oliver isn’t, the decision on who to elevate becomes a bit clearer.
Bears Also Dealing with Injuries
The Bears aren’t exactly coming in at full strength either. Their Tuesday walkthrough revealed some key names on the shelf, most notably:
- WR Romeo Odunze (foot) - estimated non-participant
- WR Luther Burden III (ankle) - estimated non-participant
Odunze has been Chicago’s top receiver across the board-receptions, targets, yards, touchdowns-you name it. Losing him, even temporarily, would be a huge blow to their passing game. Burden, who ranks third in receiving yards among Bears wideouts, is another tough loss if he can’t go.
Defensively, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds had his practice window opened and was estimated as a limited participant. If he’s activated in time, the Bears would be getting back a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the more dynamic second-level defenders in the NFC. That could be a major swing factor in a game that’s shaping up to be a battle of attrition.
What’s Next?
We’ll get a clearer picture when the official game statuses drop on Thursday. Right now, it’s a waiting game for both teams, but especially for the Packers, who are trying to patch together a functional lineup with key starters on both sides of the ball in jeopardy.
This isn’t just a rivalry game-it’s a playoff-positioning battle with major implications. And with both rosters limping into the weekend, depth, coaching adjustments, and sheer grit might decide it.