Round two of the border battle is coming quickly. The Packers got back to work today preparing for the rematch with the Minnesota Vikings, coming six weeks after they first met. It’s also unusual they’ll finish the season series with one division rival before playing either of the other two NFC north chums.
The X’s and O’s will have to wait because the midweek news continues to be dominated by MD’s and COVID.
Wisconsin is seeing a sustained surge in coronavirus cases. Too many positive tests on the University of Wisconsin football team pushed them over the Big 10’s threshold and forced the cancellation of this weekend’s game against Nebraska in Lincoln. Among the dozen members of the team turning up positive was Head Coach Paul Chryst.
Green Bay native Max Scharping who played his prep ball at Southwest High and now on the Houston Texans, tested positive and immediately was placed on the Reserve/Covid list. The Packers just left Houston but Head Coach Matt LaFleur said the team returned home clean and have not had any issues related to the pandemic, allowing them to practice as usual today.
Several key players who were withheld from the Houston game got back on the field. David Bakhtiari, Tyler Ervin, Darnell Savage and Tyler Lancaster were dressed and taking part in what amounted to a walk-through workout. They were still among the 19 players listed on this week’s initial injury report but only three were non-participants.
Aaron Jones continues to sit with his thigh injury that surfaced late last week. Kevin King was also out with a quad injury and new on the list was Mason Crosby dealing with a calf injury and sore back.
Two players eligible to come off the injured reserve list were also running around.
Allen Lazard back on Ray Nitschke Field.
Allen Lazard coming off core muscle surgery after his breakout game in New Orleans was a welcome sight to the wide receiver group which beyond Davante Adams, has put up spotty numbers.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey was also working out after suffering a shoulder injury early in the season.
The Packers have a couple of weeks before they either get them onto the 53 man roster again, keep them on IR for the remainder of the year, or cut them loose.
General Manager Brian Gutekunst continued making moves this week, signing veteran wide receiver Seth Roberts to the practice squad. He was cut by Carolina on Monday after receiving little playing time. Roberts caught 21 passes in Baltimore last season but his most productive years (2015-2018) came with the Oakland Raiders where he pulled down 158 passes and scored 13 touchdowns. He’ll undergo covid testing for the next week before being allowed to come up to the 53.
When linebacker James Burgess was moved to the 53 man roster and signing with the Pack from Atlanta’s practice squad last week, guard Ben Braden was waived. Braden cleared the 24 hour waiver period and was back on the practice squad today. One more addition to the practice squad today was defensive back KeiVarae Russell who played three seasons in Cincinnati.
