The Green Bay Packers will be without two defensive starters on Sunday against the Washington Football Team, but the inactive list wasn’t all bad news for Matt LaFleur’s team.
While outside linebacker Preston Smith and cornerback Kevin King are inactive, safety Darnell Savage has cleared concussion protocol and will play, and veteran edge rusher Whitney Mercilus – who signed on Thursday – is active.
Thanks to an oblique injury suffered last week, Smith will miss his first career NFL game. King, who is still battling through a shoulder injury, will miss a second straight game and his fourth in five games despite practicing all week.
Having Savage available should help a secondary that will start rookie Eric Stokes and backup Rasul Douglas at cornerback. The Packers starting safety suffered a concussion last week in Chicago but was able to get through the league’s protocol in time to play Sunday.
Mercilus is needed with Smith out of the picture. The former Houston Texans edge rusher could play a handful of snaps as a designated pass-rusher behind expected starters Rashan Gary and Jonathan Garvin on Sunday.
Here is the Packers’ full inactive list:
CB Kevin King
OLB Preston Smith
DL Jack Heflin
S Vernon Scott
OL Dennis Kelly
Washington won’t have three starters on offense, including two starting offensive linemen, and one of the defense’s starting cornerbacks is also out. Former Packers tight end Jace Sternberger is inactive.
Here is Washington’s full inactive list:
WR Curtis Samuel
WR Cam Sims
CB William Jackson III
DE Shaka Toney
OL Brandon Scherff
OL Sam Cosmi
TE Jace Sternberger
The Packers and Washington kick off at noon from Lambeau Field. The game will be broadcast regionally on FOX.
