GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Undaunted, even with a 4-8 record, the Green Bay Packers embarked on their quest to scale Mount Wild Card a month ago. It started appropriately, in the flatlands of Illinois where they put together a 4th quarter rally to begin the trek. After a bye week to harden their resolve, a confidence building performance for the defense that put the defending Super Bowl champions to rest followed. The hard climb continued on Christmas where the Dolphins were beaten. All that’s standing between the now 7-8 Packers and a visit to the peak of Mount Wild Card is the NFC North face, otherwise known as the Minnesota Vikings. Climb above this one and the playoff summit will be in view.
Minnesota arrives with a division title under their belt, a 12-3 record with 11 of those victories coming in one score games, they’ve won them all. The only one that wasn’t? The 23-7 victory over the Packers on opening day.
The practice week opened with an unannounced but noticeable absence. Aaron Rodgers didn’t take part in practice because of a knee injury that occurred late in the second quarter in Miami on a sack. Rodgers finished the game without much discomfort but said today the knee started giving him a bit of trouble on the plane ride home with fluid building up. He decided it was best to shut things down and get treatment for a couple of days, calling this a veteran’s rest day, much like 38 year old Marcedes Lewis gets every Thursday. Rodgers plans on returning to practice tomorrow and has no concern about his availability for Sunday afternoon.
There was also a noticeable return. For the first time since undergoing his appendectomy on December 2, David Bakhtiari was practicing. Officially listed as a limited participant, his best friend quarterback doesn’t think it’s too much of a stretch to see him in uniform against Minnesota. Rodgers said he hasn’t asked how “the belly button ache” is lately but if post practice reports are positive, Bakhtiari could be back and resume his usual Pro Bowl level of play.
The only other two players who did not participate were Christian Watson because of his hip injury and Keisean Nixon still fighting through a groin pull.
The rest of the initial injury report had Bakhtiari joined on the limited list by Elgton Jenkins (knee), Aaron Jones (knee/ankle) and Yosh Nijman (shoulder). Full participants were Jaire Alexander (forearm), Krys Barnes (hand) and Rudy Ford (wrist/knee).
The team put in a couple of hours outside on Clarke Hinkle Field with temperatures climbing into the upper 30s. The forecast for late Sunday afternoon is very similar.
Veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday after suffering a calf injury in Miami. The 7 year veteran has rarely missed a game, much less practice in his career but his run of 101 consecutive games will come to an end. The Packers don’t believe the injury is season ending, if the team does make a playoff run, he might be able to return.
With an open roster spot, the Packers have signed wide receiver Bo Melton to the 53. Melton was signed off the Seattle Seahawks practice squad where he spent the entire regular season. A 7th round pick out of Rutgers, Melton, who has 4.34 speed, caught a half dozen passes in the pre-season but was released. The Seahawks never had a need for him as a practice squad call-up and if he dresses active Sunday, it will be his NFL debut. Poetic in a sense because Melton said the Packers expressed a lot of interest in him prior to the draft including several visits with scouts and assistant coaches. Melton thought the Packers were going to take him and is happy they were the ones to call with the opportunity this week. The 5-11, 185 pound receiver also has some experience in the return game and believes he could offer instant special teams help as a flier on kick coverage.
One other roster move from Tuesday had the Packers release edge rusher Tipa Galeai. He was waived off the injured reserve list as a pulled hamstring just never came around.
Kickoff at Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon is set for 3:25 p.m.
