Paul Bretl | 8/12/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game of football, and right now in the midst of training camp, the Packers are having to navigate a number of them.
“We’re missing a lot of key players that are integral to our success as a football team,” Matt LaFleur said before Tuesday’s practice. “It is what it is. It’s an opportunity for some other guys but we definitely had some injuries strike up at some positions where it’s made us pretty thin.”
Among the players working through injuries is quarterback Jordan Love, who underwent surgery on his left thumb on Tuesday. The hope is that Love can return to practice next week, but he likely won’t be seeing any more preseason action.
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Depth is the hallmark of the Green Bay receiver room, but even that is being put to the test currently. Along with not having Christian Watson (knee) available as he rehabs from a late-season ACL injury, Jayden Reed (foot), and Donatayvion Wicks (calf) have been sidelined in recent practices.
Then during Tuesday’s training camp practice, Savion Williams would drop out at one point, as would Romeo Doubs after colliding with safety Evan Williams on a downfield throw.
Doubs did not speak with reporters afterward, but did confirm that he was good. No further updates have been reported at this time.
As the Packers work through a number of key injuries on the offensive side of the ball, an added challenge that LaFleur and the team face in their preparation for the regular season is figuring out how to hit the ground running with a number of key players sidelined during practices.
“I think that’s something we gotta figure out along the way and I know that we will and we will have a plan for it,” LaFleur said. “We’ve been in similar situations in the past, so you always lean into that. But ultimately you just gotta–every day’s a new day in this league and you just gotta be ready to adapt and adjust.”
Defensively, another position of depth, safety, is going through its own stress test with Xavier McKinney (calf) and Zayne Anderson (knee) sidelined–although Gutekunst believes that McKinney will be available come Week 1.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) has been out as well, and unlike wide receiver and safety, this is a position where the depth was already in question given the lack of experience behind the starters.
Hobbs’ injury isn’t long-term, but it is missed practice time and valuable reps lost.
“I mean but that’s life in the National Football League,” LaFleur said of the injuries. “You’ve got to adapt, you’ve got to adjust and we’ll try to make the best of it. Just like I’ve said with many of our guys, you never want your guys – you don’t want anybody to miss practice, whether it’s a starter or a backup, it doesn’t matter.
“We want everybody there working on their craft putting in the work to get better. But when somebody’s not there, it’s an opportunity for somebody else, so you’ve just gotta try to look at it glass half full and try to make the best of the situation.”
Some good news on the injury front for the Packers is that Quay Walker has been a steady presence in the team portion of practice this week. Also returning to 11-on-11s on Tuesday were Rasheed Walker, MarShawn Lloyd, and Emanuel Wilson.
LaFleur said on Sunday that the original plan going into the preseason was for the starters to play against New York, participate in only the joint practice against Indianapolis, and then play in both the joint practice and preseason game against Seattle.
That original plan is always subject to change as new information comes in, whether it be injury or performance related.
The balance between wanting to stay healthy and callousing your football team in preparation for the regular season is always a fine line to walk. Ultimately, a key part of that decision is the coaching staff having a pulse on what their team needs.
Injuries or not, an important week and a half is upon the Packers with two joint practices and two preseason games ahead.
“It’s a tough balance,” Gutekunst said, “but at the same time the goals we’re trying to accomplish require work and you’ve gotta play. I think every team’s a little bit different in that regard, but I know this particular team in my opinion needs to play and play together, so the more reps we can get I think the better.
“Injuries are going to happen, that’s part of this. We have to be able to adjust and still move forward, and we will. But whenever guys miss time, it’s never positive, but it’s part of the game and we’re all used to it. It creates opportunities for other guys and when that happens, particularly in the preseason.”