The Green Bay Packers practiced again Thursday without four preferred starters: linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, safety Darnell Savage, receiver Christian Watson and receiver Jayden Reed.
It’s usually a solid indicator that a player might miss the game when they miss back-to-back practices at the beginning of the week. On Sunday, the Packers travel to Carolina to play the Panthers.
Campbell claimed he was no longer willing to play with a neck issue that has been bothering him. To see if things can get better, the Packers are giving him some time off. If Campbell is unable to play, Isaiah McDuffie will start beside Quay Walker.
Savage had a shoulder injury in the second half of the Packers’ defeat to the New York Giants, thus he was out for last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens were the team’s two safeties in his absence.
Due to a hamstring injury he sustained earlier in the month against the Kansas City Chiefs, Watson might miss his third straight game. Watson is jogging with the rehabilitation group and is making “good progress,” according to coach Matt LaFleur, but it seems like he will take at least a week to return.
After playing through a chest ailment a few weeks ago, Reed is currently struggling with a fresh injury to his toe. Despite many injuries over the past two months, the rookie has performed at a high level and is tough as nails. On Friday, the final day of practice before the team departs for Charlotte, the Packers will try to get him.
Elgton Jenkins, a left guard who missed practice on Wednesday due to a shoulder issue, made a limited comeback on Thursday, which was one anticipated improvement. Jenkins has spent the previous two weeks working through the problem.
Tight end Luke Musgrave, who is still on injured reserve, was listed as a “did not participate” with a kidney issue on the injury report but was cleared to play on Thursday. He has missed four games he lacerated his organ during the Packers’ victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. He won’t be playing on Sunday.
Caleb Jones, an offensive lineman for the Packers, was also added to the injury list due to a new foot problem and an illness. There are currently 17 players on the Packers’ injury report.
On Friday afternoon, the final injury report with the player status designations for Sunday is received. With all 17 of the players on the injury report either restricted or not practicing on Thursday, the club may have a number of players listed as doubtful, questionable, or out by Friday.
Right tackle Taylor Moton was upgraded to limited on Thursday by the Panthers, who removed two players from the injury list (rest days on Wednesday). Edge rusher Brian Burns, who missed practice for the second day in a row, is one of the five players still listed as sick on the injury report.
