The Green Bay Packers are on a bye this week. Although the Packers need to improve in a few key areas coming out of the bye, the most important aspect of the bye week is the ability to rest and heal injuries.
Matt LaFleur’s team limped to the bye. No player is fully healthy two months into a season, but several key players were injured and out or played through old injuries in last week’s home loss to the Lions. Detroit.
To get hot, you’ll have to get the most out of the best players. Here are the important Packers who need to be healthy during the bye:
QB Jordan Love (knee/groin)
The bye should give Love a chance to completely put his Week 1 MCL sprain behind him while giving his strained groin more time to reach 100% before the Packers return to practice and begin preparation on the field for the Bears next week. Missed practice time almost certainly affected Love’s playing performance. Remember, this is a second-year starter who has missed a lot of reps due to injuries this season. Getting a consistent round of full-body workouts and two healthy legs could help him rediscover timing with receivers — possibly leading to better ball placement — and give him better mobility in and out of the pocket. Love has only fallen out five times this season.
CB Jaire Alexander (knee)
The Packers’ top cornerback missed his second game of the 2024 season with a knee injury before the bye. The team listed him as questionable to play in Week 9, so it’s possible the knee injury won’t be a long-term issue and Alexander will return next week ready to go. The two-time All-Pro battled quad and groin injuries before the new knee issue. The Packers need Alexander healthy, available and playing at a dominant level down the stretch. He is by far the best corner on the team.
C Josh Myers (wrist)
Not having Myers available due to a wrist injury hurt the Packers in the rain against the Lions. Will injury be a factor coming out of the bye? Any hand or wrist injury is serious for a player who must handle the ball and use his hands to block the 315 pounds on every snap. The Packers could survive with Elgton Jenkins at center and Jordan Morgan and Sean Rhyan at guard, but last week’s loss proved how difficult it can be to change centers.
RB Josh Jacobs (ankle)
Jacobs’ ankle was banged up in Jacksonville and he played through the injury last week. But there is clearly pain, and Jacobs briefly left the field after limping last Sunday. Running backs take so much punishment during the season, so the bye came at the right time for Jacobs. He’s been a consistent producer all season, and the Packers need him to carry a heavy load over the final eight games. It should be closer to 100 percent coming out of the bye.
DL Kenny Clark (toe)
Although he hasn’t missed a game, Clark has been rather quietly listed on the injury report every week since Week 2 due to a toe injury. It’s fair to wonder if the toe problem could affect his performance on the field. Foot injuries can be very serious for a 314-pound defensive lineman who relies on explosion and power off the ball. He also added a shoulder injury last week. Could the bye week allow Clark to recover from his injuries? In nine games, Clark had no sacks, two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss. He needs to be much more productive as a disruptor in the final eight games.
OL Elgton Jenkins (butt/knee)
Like Clark, Jenkins played with a nagging injury for most of the season. The veteran offensive lineman has dealt with knee and glute injuries for most of the last six weeks, but hasn’t missed any playing time. While Jenkins has only allowed eight pressures in pass protection , he still has poor PFF grades for run blocking.
TE Tucker Kraft (shoulder)
The Packers kept Kraft in a red non-contact uniform during practice to protect his injured shoulder. He also played through a groin injury. The shoulder is probably the most significant injury given that Kraft is an important line and move blocker for the running game. A week off for the shoulder should help the Packers’ rising young tight end be even better over the past couple of months.
S Evan Williams (hamstring)
The fourth-round rookie has become one of the Packers’ most important defenders, and the defense missed him badly in Jacksonville and last week against the Lions while he was out with a hamstring injury. A week off should be just what the doctor ordered, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Williams is ready to return next week against the Bears. With Williams available, the Packers can move Javon Bullard to the slot and Keisean Nixon to the outside, which appears to be the defense’s preferred formation. More than anything, the Packers need Williams’ valuable combination of reliability and playmaking ability at safety.
RB MarShawn Lloyd (ankle)
The Packers believe Lloyd is close to coming off injured reserve and returning to the 53-man roster. In fact, Brian Gutekunst said Lloyd could take Preston Smith’s place next week. While the Packers are in good shape at running back, Lloyd could add a little more explosiveness to the offense down the stretch. The rookie has rare speed at 220 pounds. He could be tough to face as a backup option behind Josh Jacobs in December and January.
DL Devonte Wyatt (ankle)
Before his ankle injury, Wyatt had produced nine pressures and three sacks in four games. Since returning from his ankle injury, Wyatt has only three carries on 30 assists. He was limited in practice before facing the Lions, so it’s possible Wyatt returns next week and is closer to full participation. The Packers need him and Clark to destroy the inside game to finish the 2024 season.
