Don’t rule out the possibility of Rashan Gary and Eric Stokes being on the field for the Green Bay Packers when Matt LaFleur’s team travels to Chicago to play the Bears in Week 1 of the 2023 season.
Both LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst expressed optimism on the current timelines of Gary and Stokes, two players who went down with season-ending injuries on Nov. 6 against the Detroit Lions last year and will start training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Gary tore his ACL. Stokes had knee and foot injuries. Both could be back during training camp, per LaFleur.
“I think we’re hopeful (they’ll be back during training camp),” LaFleur said Tuesday. “They’ve done an outstanding job, and Flea (Bryan Engel) and his staff have done a great job of rehabbing them. The way they’ve attacked it, the work they’ve put in, it’s evident, you can see it. They’re doing really well. The plan the whole time was to, when they get in here, to put them on PUP. We’ll see how fast we can get them off. Provided there are no setbacks, I would see them eventually coming off.”
Gutekunst said the Packers won’t rush either player back. Gary, a top edge rusher, is entering a contract year and is a foundational player for the franchise. But the Packers general manager said Gary will have to a chance, if all goes well, to be on the field during trianing camp.
“We’re going to be very cautious as far as making sure he’s good to go, he’s got a long career ahead of him and we want to make sure we do everything we can to make sure he can let it loose,” Gutekunst said. “He’s done an amazing job and it’s going to be hard to hold him back. He’s ready to go. He wants to keep pushing, and he will. We’ll start him off these next 2-3 weeks and see where he’s at. I wouldn’t put anything past him because he’s a different kind of guy.”
Players placed on the PUP list to open camp can come off at any time, and it’s possible the Packers will have Gary and Stokes back doing individual drills within the first few weeks of camp. Progressing through individuals would provide the pathway back to the field in 11-on-11 team periods.
If Gary and Stokes remain on the PUP list throughout training camp, they could begin the regular season on the PUP and miss the first four games.
The Packers open the 2023 regular season on Sept. 10 against the Bears.
