As other NFL teams are seeing more players injured as the season comes to an end, the Green Bay Packers seem to be getting healthier just when they need it the most.
Quarterback Jordan Love is back to his best after struggling with left knee and groin injuries early in the season. The rest of the team is also improving.
“I think every team that can realize their potential needs to be as healthy as they can be. And injuries are a part of this business,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “It is what it is in terms of the next man up, but obviously, you want the guys that are your starters to be available — especially as you get closer to the end of the year.”
Love has been playing well recently, completing 67.1% of his passes for 904 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception (118.8 passer rating) in the last four games. Much of his strong performance is because he is healthy again.
“The name of the game is trying to stay as healthy as possible, especially late into the season,” Love said. “There’s definitely injuries that stack up and guys being out. To have everybody relatively healthy and to be able to have our top guys out there would be huge for us.”
The Packers (9-4) are heading into their Sunday night game against the Seahawks (8-5) in Seattle. Only one player, safety Javon Bullard, didn’t practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury he suffered in the team’s loss to Detroit on Dec. 5. LaFleur said Bullard is week-to-week.
The Packers had full participation from cornerback Jaire Alexander, who has missed four of the last five games because of a knee injury he sustained on Oct. 27 in Jacksonville, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who has missed the last two games because of a concussion he suffered on Nov. 24 against San Francisco.
Although Alexander had limited practice in recent weeks, he has missed the last three games and even had to leave the Nov. 17 win over Chicago due to his knee injury.
Having Alexander back to help defend against Seattle’s top receivers like DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be a big boost to the Packers’ pass defense, which ranks 21st, allowing 222.2 yards per game.
“When I was watching him, he looked like he was moving around well, and we’ll just see how it transpires throughout the course of the week,” LaFleur said. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready to roll.”
LaFleur also mentioned that Doubs and rookie safety Evan Williams, who left the Packers’ 34-31 loss to the Lions due to a concussion, are still in the concussion protocol. However, Williams was able to practice on a limited basis.
Tight end Luke Musgrave, who hasn’t played since injuring his left ankle during a Sept. 29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, has been cleared to return from injured reserve.
Musgrave participated in practice for the first time since his surgery in early October to repair a torn ligament in his ankle. He said he only worked on individual drills on Wednesday, so it’s unlikely he will be activated this week.
“Just going to ease back into it, but I feel good,” Musgrave said. “Still getting the cutting back, but overall, it feels good.”
