The Green Bay Packers added another starting member of the offensive line to the Week 7 injury report.
Center Corey Linsley, who was listed on Thursday’s updated injury report with a back injury, joins left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has now missed two straight practices with a chest injury.
It’s unclear the severity of Linsley’s injury, although the veteran center does have a history of back issues. He was listed as limited on Thursday.
Linsley has been terrific to start the 2020 season. He is the highest-graded center at Pro Football Focus through six weeks, and by a significant margin. He’s played 337 snaps, including 201 pass-blocking snaps, without giving up a pressure.
The Packers were also without Marcedes Lewis, who didn’t practice on Thursday, but the team often gives the veteran tight end time off during the week. He is nursing a knee injury but played last week.
The Packers now have 14 players on their Week 7 injury report. They made no other changes from Wednesday, when Bakhtiari, running back Tyler Ervin, safety Darnell Savage, tight end Robert Tonyan and defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster all missed practice. Two practice absences to start the week suggest all five are heading towards an iffy playing status on Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Bakhtiari, Tonyan and Savage are all starters. Lancaster is a run-stuffer along the defensive line, and Ervin – who missed Week 6 with a wrist injury – has been the offense’s go-to player on jet motion plays.
How the Packers would replace Bakhtiari at left tackle is uncertain. We ran through the options here.
Replacing Linsley would only complicate the situation. Lucas Patrick, the current starter at right guard, is the top backup at center. If Linsley can’t go, rookie Jon Runyan would likely have to start at one of the guard positions.
