The 2020 season’s 4th Quarter is about to begin. The 9-3 Green Bay Packers hit the final month with a chance to wrap up a playoff spot and NFC North Division title as soon as Sunday when they travel to Ford Field to take on the 5-7 Detroit Lions. By the time they kick off at 3:25 PM CST, they’ll know the result of the Minnesota Vikings-Tampa Bay Buccaneers contest at noon. If the Vikings fall, the Packers can doff division winning caps with a victory.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur wants to make sure his team stays as fresh as possible and conducted only a walk through practice on Wednesday before a more vigorous Thursday practice. He has reason to lighten up after a very physical game against the Philadelphia Eagles left two players with concussions and sent three more to the injured reserve list.
A flurry of personnel moves have already been made this week. On Tuesday, the Packers announced safety Henry Black is being promoted to the 53 man roster from the practice squad. He’s made a couple of appearances as a game day call-up already this year. General Manager Brian Gutekunst then added center Anthony Fabiano to the practice squad. The team’s in need of an extra snapper since Corey Linsley went on IR last week.
Wednesday, rookie guard Simon Stepaniak finally came off the Reserve/Non Football Injury list. The Indiana draft pick has been sidelined the entire year but began practicing late last week.
Then came the more troubling news with running back Tyler Ervin, safety Raven Greene and defensive tackle Billy Winn all being placed on injured reserve. Players must spend at least three weeks on IR and its possible all three have had their 2020 season come to an end. Ervin has already battled through writ and rib injuries before he finally returned last week only to suffer an ankle injury. Greene injured his shoulder trying to tackle Jalen Reagor on his punt return touchdown and Winn suffered a triceps injury. While it won’t require surgery, Winn likely wont’ be back.
Thankfully, reinforcements may have already arrived. Tavon Austin and Anthony Rush were both signed last week but didn’t dress against the Eagles. Austin is the likely replacement at least in the punt return game and Rush will step into the defensive line rotation.
Running back A.J. Dillon finally came off the Reserve/Covid list on Thursday. He reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus the weekend of the Vikings game on November first. Details on his medical condition were never disclosed but Dillon did send out a tweet on Thursday saying, “Happy to be back out there…remember Covid hits everyone differently! I’ll be the poster boy for it’s no joke. I appreciate all the support throughout the process.”
Thursday’s injury report listed 14 players but only Jace Sternberger (concussion) and Marcedes Lewis (knee) did no participate. Lewis usually gets a veteran day off late in the week. Receiver Malik Taylor was a newcomer to the list as a limited participant with a hamstring injury. Equanimeous St. Brown apparently cleared the concussion protocol because he was a limited participant as well.
Some award winning news this week included Aaron Rodgers earning the NFC offensive player of the week award for his three touchdown effort against the Eagles, hitting 400 career TD passes faster than anyone in league history. Aaron Jones capped his 130 yard game with a spectacular 77 yard scoring dash warned the FedEx Ground player of the week award in fan balloting.
The best is saved for last as the Packers and the NFL announced all 32 team nominees for the prestigious Walter Payton Man Of The Year Award.
Corey Linsley – the Pack’s man of the year.
The award is given to the player who goes above and beyond the call both on the field and in the community to make an impact. Linsley is an extremely deserving Packer nominee and you can hear for yourself about his (and his wife Anna’s) involvement in a Brown County program to help children.
Congrats and well done Corey.
The Walter Payton Man Of The Year winner will be announced Super Bowl week. Other nominees around the league include former Packer Jimmy Graham with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay native, former Bay Port High School and University of Wisconsin fullback Alec Ingold of the Las Vegas Raiders.
