The Packers’ defensive tackle room got thinner on the eve of their Sunday night matchup with Dallas.
Green Bay placed Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Ford on injured reserve Saturday, removing both from the lineup before the Cowboys visit. Hargrave tore his Achilles in the 31-7 win over the Chicago Bears on Oct. 11 and will miss the rest of the season, according to the team. Ford missed every practice this week with a calf injury and was ruled out Friday.
That leaves Anthony Campbell in the spotlight. He is questionable with an ankle injury, and Matt LaFleur made it clear all week that the Packers were preparing as if his status could swing late.
“Hopefully we’ll get Campbell rolling this week,” LaFleur said. “But it truly is the next man up mentality, and guys got to get ready to play.
That’s just the nature of the beast, and I think that’s one of the luxuries of having a 70-man roster. We tell our players this all the time: whether you’re on the active or on the P squad, you got to get ready to play.”
LaFleur wouldn’t lay out the full replacement plan for the position, but he didn’t hide the reality of losing two tackles in one shot.
“We’ve got a plan for that,” LaFleur said. “We’ve got a plan. But certainly it doesn’t help.”
He was asked later in the week whether Green Bay could survive a game with only four defensive tackles.
“If he’s ready to go, he’ll be in there,” LaFleur said of Campbell. “If not, we’ll have to get somebody else ready to play.”
“Potentially,” LaFleur said of playing with four. “I mean, that would be less than ideal.”
There was a bit of relief elsewhere on the depth chart. Devonte Wyatt practiced through an ankle injury this week and no longer carries a game status.
Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said Wyatt is still working his way back to the level he showed before a major injury, but added that he is “ascending right now.” Wyatt also came up big against Chicago with a strip sack that safety Evan Williams recovered.
Jordan Riley is another name to watch. He is coming back from an Achilles injury, has been designated to return from injured reserve, and is in his 21-day practice window. Riley is listed as doubtful, but LaFleur said seeing him back on the field this week was “great to see.”
“I thought he played good football for us last year,” LaFleur said. “Nothing that you can simulate the real football, like putting the pads on. So today will be a big day for him.”
Green Bay enters Sunday night at 3-2, with Dallas at 2-3. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m.
CT at Lambeau Field, with the game on NBC and Peacock. The Cowboys’ defensive front also features former Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
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