Matt LaFleur provides encouraging injury updates on two key Packers players
In a bit of unsurprising news, the Green Bay Packers placed both Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes on the PUP list ahead of training camp. Both players are dealing with serious, season-ending injuries that occurred during Week 9's loss to the Detroit Lions. Gary tore his ACL and Stokes suffered both foot and knee injuries […]
In a bit of unsurprising news, the Green Bay Packers placed both Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes on the PUP list ahead of training camp.
Both players are dealing with serious, season-ending injuries that occurred during Week 9's loss to the Detroit Lions. Gary tore his ACL and Stokes suffered both foot and knee injuries that included a Lisfranc injury and a torn meniscus, respectively.
It's still unclear as to when both players will return to the football field, but Packers head coach sounded pretty optimistic when he spoke about a potential summer return.
"We're hopeful for that. I think they've done an outstanding job," LaFleur told reporters Tuesday. "[They] certainly put the work in [and] it's evident you can see it. I think they're doing really well and the whole plan the whole time, I believe, was when they get in here to put them on PUP and we'll see how fast we can get them off. Provided there's no setbacks, I would see them eventually coming off."
It would be huge if both players returned before Week 1. Gary is one of the Packers' best players, on both sides of the ball, and his return would provide an immediate boost that can help the defense pick up where it left off in 2022. Stokes, while no longer a starter, would provide excellent depth and insurance in case one of the Packers' top cornerbacks were to go down for an extended period of time.
But maybe even more importantly, Stokes can help alleviate concerns in case Keisean Nixon -or anyone behind him- can't prove to be an effective nickel corner. The Packers could then slide Rasul Douglas (or even Jaire Alexander at times) back inside and Stokes could take over for Douglas on the outside. The defense is obviously better with Douglas on the outside, but the point is Stokes' journey is far from over despite Douglas "taking his job", so to speak.
As with all things of this nature – only time will tell what happens. But, expect an ecstatic coaching staff and roster if LaFleur turns out to be right.
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