Packers on verge of making key decision with Eric Stokes
The Green Bay Packers are already dealing with a lot of injuries during this young season and they may receive some closure on one they've been dealing with since last year in cornerback Eric Stokes. Stokes suffered both knee and foot injuries against the Detroit Lions in Week 9 and he was placed on the […]
The Green Bay Packers are already dealing with a lot of injuries during this young season and they may receive some closure on one they've been dealing with since last year in cornerback Eric Stokes.
Stokes suffered both knee and foot injuries against the Detroit Lions in Week 9 and he was placed on the PUP list before training camp started. The third-year corner has remained there since, but Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday the team plans on making a decision revolving around his future, soon.
"That should be coming up here, shortly. I've got to still have another conversation with 'Gute' [Packers GM Brian Gutekunst] and our training staff before we make a definitive decision," said LaFleur.
Players can come off of the PUP list after the first four weeks of the season, but it remains to be seen if Stokes stays on the PUP, is moved to IR, or, sees his 21-day practice window opened up.
The Packers have to make sure they time the latter option out correctly, though. If Stokes isn't cleared by the time the practice window ends then he will revert back to PUP for the rest of the year. Meaning, he won't be eligible to play in 2023.
That would be a big blow to the Packers' cornerback depth, especially considering Jaire Alexander's back issue.
Overall, things sound promising when reading between the lines of another LaFleur comment. Especially considering he said Friday the team hopes to get Stokes back in practice this week.
"I think our athletic training staff has done a really nice job of trying to ramp him up. Granted, it is different than being out there playing 11-on-11. But we'll see how he progresses," he said when asked how the Packers can get him ready to play. "You know, he's a guy that has missed a lot of time, but he's also played a lot of ball and [we're] looking forward to get him back out there."
Even if Stokes takes up the full 21-day window, it'll be a big boost for the Packers defense. Stokes has shown he's more than capable of starting in the NFL and as we all know, corners are more important than ever in today's game.
"I mean, having a bunch of good players – that's a good problem. That's a champagne problem," Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry said Monday. "So you can never have -I've stood up here and said it many times- you can never have too many good corners. So that'll be exciting when we get to that."
