A snowy, rainy mix greeted the Pack at practice today.
Backup linebacker Ty Summers scoffed at the chilly weather by briefly taking off his jersey. Jaire Alexander, just back with the boys recovering from his shoulder injury, playfully shoved a snowball down the back of a teammate. You’d never know the Packers are days away from what could be a division clinching game against their oldest rivals, the Chicago Bears.
Even Matt LaFleur couldn’t resist joking with the media at his pre-practice news conference. In an auditorium full of masked reporters (as we have been all year), LaFleur walked to the podium donning his own face covering.
When ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky asked the coach what’s up with the mask? LaFleur snapped, “I just want to look like you Rob.” Demovsky replied no one’s ever said that to me before and LaFleur added, “I’m gonna shave my head next.”
LaFleur then admitted he was a close contact with a positive COVID-19 case on Monday (presumably quarterback Jordan Love who was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday). Because he’s vaccinated, LaFleur avoided a quarantine but must still adhere to masking protocols while at the stadium.
Another COVID case could get cleared as soon as tomorrow. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell entered the protocol last week and his 10 day quarantine will end as of Friday. LaFleur said while Campbell will be allowed back in the stadium, he won’t take part in the week’s final practice but if he clears the remaining testing hurdles, he’ll play on Sunday night against the Bears.
Then came the more sobering injury news. Wide receiver Randall Cobb capped an impactful first half performance against the Los Angeles Rams (4 catches for 95 yards) with a touchdown grab but on the play, reportedly suffered a groin injury. After resting through the bye week, Cobb didn’t show up on the practice field Wednesday and we learned he won’t be back for a while. LaFleur said Cobb’s injury was significant and will be out indefinitely. Later this afternoon, Demovsky and others reported Cobb actually underwent core muscle surgery which could end his comeback season with the Packers.
Allen Lazard underwent a similar procedure last year and missed a total of seven weeks. That time frame would put a possible Cobb return around the NFC Championship game weekend.
Brought back to the team at the urging of Aaron Rodgers, Cobb proved to be a dependable although not very busy target. He has 28 receptions for 375 yards but shares the team lead with five touchdown catches. His biggest contributions have come on third down. Working mostly from the slot Cobb has 9 third down conversions on 11 targets, among the best percentages in the league.
LaFleur called the injury “unfortunate” and the offense will adjust by lining up several candidates in the slot position. Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown nd Malik Taylor are possibilities. Even Davante Adams might run a few snaps from that position. Third round draft choice Amari Rodgers was selected for that role but his development slowed upon Cobb’s arrival but LaFleur said he could also get more opportunities moving forward.
As Marquez Valdes-Scantling said after practice, Cobb will be missed but at some point this season, never every receiver on the roster (himself for five games) has been sidelined:
Aaron Rodgers missed a second straight practice because of the healing broken toe. He has been calling and seeing plays in the game plan during walk throughs however. David Bakhtiari still hasn’t returned to practice either and Marcedes Lewis was given his customary veteran’s day off.
The only limited participant was Adams wit a hamstring but that’s not expected to keep him out Sunday night.
Kevin King (hip/knee) and Malik Taylor (abdomen) were full participants.
Judging from the energy and enthusiasm at practice on a lousy weather day, the Packers appear pretty loose heading into a big game coming off their bye. LaFleur touched on the challenges of keeping the team’s focus after a week away.
The Packers under LaFleur are 0-2 coming out of the bye. Last year, the Packers were handled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a harbinger of things to come. In 2019, Green Bay got whipped by the San Francisco 49ers, the same team that ended that season in January. Both those games were on the road. The Packers losing streak post-bye stands at 4 years overall, last winning in 2016 when they beat the New York Giants at Lambeau Field.
Perhaps even more encouraging, the last time Green Bay played the Chicago Bears with two weeks to prepare, it was a 55-14 demolishing at Lambeau in 2014.
Let’s see what this Sunday brings.
