The Green Bay Packers kept cornerback Eric Stokes on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list through Tuesday’s roster cut deadline, meaning he’ll start the regular season on the PUP list and miss at least the first four games of the year.
Stokes is still recovering from last season’s injuries suffered in early November at Ford Field. He required surgery to fix both knee and foot injuries and missed the final eight games of 2022. The foot injury was the more significant injury and the one Stokes is still dealing with in terms of returning to the field.
As a result, the Packers kept just four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster: Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon and rookie Carrington Valentine. The team cut Corey Ballentine, Innis Gaines, Shemar Jean-Charles, William Hooper, Tyrell Ford and Elijah Hamilton on Tuesday.
Stokes, a first-round pick in 2021, started 14 games as a rookie and the team’s first nine games of last season. He broke up a team-high 14 passes in 2021 but didn’t have a pass breakup last season.
With Nixon in the slot and Alexander and Douglas locked in on the outside, it’s difficult to figure out how Stokes gets back on the field once healthy. The Packers also love Valentine, a summer standout in Green Bay.
While on the PUP list, Stokes will not count against the 53-man roster.
The Packers face the Chicago Beasr, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions over the first four games of 2023.
