The Green Bay Packers didn’t make a transaction at running back after losing Patrick Taylor to a groin injury, and now we might know why. Taylor, who missed practices on Wednesday and Thursday and the Family Night Scrimmage on Friday night, returned to practice on Sunday, suggesting he could be ready to play when the Packers travel to San Francisco to open the preseason on Friday.
LaFleur’s team needs him back in the fold.
Taylor’s brief absence left the Packers with only undrafted rookies Tyler Goodson and BJ Baylor behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who won’t play in the preseason opener. LaFleur said he wouldn’t be comfortable going into a preseason game with only two available running backs and left open the possibility of making a roster adjustment, but Taylor’s injury was clearly minor and his return greatly lessens the need for another running back on the roster.
Taylor remains the front runner to make the team as the No. 3 running back. He played in nine games and rushed 23 times for the Packers in 2021. Kylin Hill, who made the team as the third option behind Jones and Dillon to start last season, is still on the PUP list recovering from an ACL injury suffered in Week 8 of last year, opening the door for Taylor to make the 53-man roster to open 2022.
Keep an eye on Taylor’s participation status the rest of the week. If he’s practicing normally, the Packers are probably good to go at running back for the preseason opener. If not, LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst might need to make an addition at some point between now and Friday.
