As is usually the case in the NFL in-season, the Green Bay Packers started a new week on Wednesday — in preparation of playing the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Week 10 — getting both good news and bad news on the injury front.
The first practice of the week generally sets the stage for a team’s injury situation.
Receiver Christian Watson passed concussion evaluations and was “full go” at Wednesday’s practice, per coach Matt LaFleur. Watson exited Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Rams after falling hard at the end of a 37-yard catch in the fourth quarter. He was evaluated for a concussion and the team reported both chest and back injuries, but his participation status on Wednesday suggests he was cleared and will be good to go come Sunday in Pittsburgh. Once again, Watson appears to have avoided a serious injury. He got his knee twisted up late in a loss in Denver but played the next week without limitation.
The Packers also had defensive lineman Kenny Clark available on Wednesday. Clark left Sunday’s win with a shoulder injury in the first half and didn’t return.
Running back Aaron Jones handled 24 touches against the Rams and got through the contest fine. Unlike last week, Jones wasn’t wearing a red no-contact uniform during Wednesday’s practice, and LaFleur expressed no concern over his workload going into this week.
It wasn’t all good news. LaFleur said cornerback Jaire Alexander got “banged up” against the Rams and didn’t practice Wednesday. He’s been battling a lingering back injury, so any kind of setback would be significant just four days out from playing the Steelers.
Starting left tackle Yosh Nijman and right guard Jon Runyan Jr. did not practice on Wednesday. Linebacker Quay Walker (groin) also missed practice after sitting out Sunday’s win. Safety Rudy Ford returned to practice in a limited capacity.
The Packers will release an official injury report — the first of Week 10 — later Wednesday.
