With the bye week in the rear view mirror, the Green Bay Packers are about to set sail for a 12 week run to the finish line of the 2023 season beginning with a trip to Denver to take on the 1-5 Broncos Sunday afternoon kicking off at 3:25 PM. It’s gotten off to a rocky 2-3 start for Head Coach Matt LaFleur who spent the entire week off conducting an extensive self-scout of his stumbling offense. What did he uncover?
Help may finally be on the way. Running back Aaron Jones practiced for a second time this week on Wednesday, albeit in a limited capacity. Jones injured his hamstring on opening day against the Chicago Bears after scoring his second touchdown of the day. After missing a couple of games, he returned against Detroit but had only five carries. Jones was a late scratch for the game in Las Vegas but appears ready to get back on the field thanks to the long lay-off. Jones said after practice Wednesday it’s been frustrating but he hopes now he can help get rid of some of that “choppy” play LaFleur talked about.
Quarterback Jordan Love would certainly welcome Jones back on the field. Even A.J. Dillon picked up 76 yards with a score against the Raiders, the run game has struggled through the first five weeks and even the passing game was beset with mistakes in Las Vegas. Love said he felt sick over the week long break over his three interception performance last time out. Love said his focus is on what’s in front of him, a new game plan with another chance to improve against a Denver defense that has been a train wreck this year.
The only player who did not participate in practice Wednesday was linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. He’s been out with a high ankle sprain since the first quarter of the New Orleans game. The Packers were hopeful he would recover through the bye and while LaFleur said he hasn’t suffered a setback necessarily, he’s on the doubtful side to return this weekend. A half dozen other players aside from Jones were limited, including Devonte Wyatt, new to the injured list with a knee issue. Darnell Savage (calf), Elgton Jenkins (knee), Quay Walker (knee), Zayne Anderson (hamstring) and Eric Stokes (foot) were also listed. Stokes might be in line to come off the Physically Unable to Perform List once and for all and be activated to the 53 man roster. He hasn’t played since injuring his knee and ankle last November in Detroit.
The two new members of the practice squad joined the team. Running back James Robinson, wearing number 24, took part in Wednesday’s workout. He’s trying to recharge his career after rushing for over a thousand yards as an undrafted rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. Defensive back Anthony Johnson also arrived, a rookie free agent from Virginia, giving the Packers an Anthony Johnson and and Anthony Johnson Jr. in the secondary. The latter was drafted out of Iowa State by the Pack.
