Eight key players were unable to participate in any kind of capacity for the Geren Bay Packers during Thursday’s practice, complicating Matt LaFleur’s preparation for the Oakland Raiders’ visit on Sunday.
Receivers Davante Adams (toe), Geronimo Allison (concussion, chest) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (ankle, knee), defensive lineman Kenny Clark (calf, back), tight end Jimmy Graham (ankle), safety Darnell Savage (ankle), tight end Robert Tonyan (hip) and cornerback Tramon Williams (knee) all missed the padded practice on Thursday and are now in danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Of the eight players, seven are preferred starters.
“There’s a couple of guys we’re not sure about (for Sunday),” coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday.
LaFleur turned part of Thursday’s practice into a walk-through in an effort to keep the healthy players fresh before Sunday. As it stands now, the Packers will have a hard time fielding 46 healthy players for the active gameday roster.
Four players were downgraded coming out of Wednesday’s walkthrough. Clark picked up a back injury, Williams has a new knee injury and both Tonyan and cornerback Kevin King are going backward with previous injuries.
The Packers’ passing game figures to be stressed again. The team was without its top three receivers (Adams, Allison, Valdes-Scantling) and two of its top three tight ends (Graham, Tonyan) on Thursday. The defense would also be shorthanded if the team’s top defensive lineman (Clark) and two starters in the secondary (Williams and Savage) can’t go.
The Packers will provide another update Friday before deciding on official injury status designations on Friday afternoon.
