
Seven key players appear to be headed back to the field for the Divisional round, but will they all be able to contribute at 100 percent?
David Bakhtiari, Za’Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander, Josh Myers, Randall Cobb, Billy Turner, and now Whitney Mercilus.
Those are the names of the reinforcements who have returned to the playing and/or practice fields for the Green Bay Packers over the last week. Bakhtiari and Myers both started on Sunday in Detroit, while the others have all participated in at least some capacity in practice over the last few days.
Thursday’s full-pads practice brought the surprising news of the last name on that list returning, giving the Packers an even bigger emotional lift heading into the bye week. At a time when other NFL teams continue to see players leaving the field with injuries, the Packers are projecting to get three All-Pros, two more former Pro Bowlers, and a pair of other critical starters back in the nick of time for their playoff run.
As the team takes a few more days off before starting to practice next week for the Divisional playoffs, let’s look at those returning players in more detail.
Playoff-bound Packers excited to see returning playmakers | Packers.com
The whole band is getting back together for this playoff run, as the Packers seemingly get a player back every day of practice.
Pass-rusher Whitney Mercilus makes surprise return to Green Bay Packers practice | ESPN
Thursday’s shocking return was Mercilus, who tore his biceps in November.
Whitney Mercilus makes good on vow, returns to practice after being activated from injured reserve | Packersnews.com
Mercilus’ return was a huge surprise for fans, but even for his defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Barry told reporters, however, that Mercilus was saying all along that his season wasn’t over, promising to return and attacking his rehab diligently.
1 big thing each returning Packers player can add to Super Bowl run | Packers Wire
Getting seven injured players back is absurd, making up almost one-seventh of the entire 53-man roster. Here’s what to look for from each of these players next weekend.
Packers thrilled with injured players’ returns, but a decade ago, a similar scenario didn’t work out – The Athletic
This article is a bit of a buzzkill, bringing up the fact that the 2011 team got some injured players back for the Divisional round, and we all remember how that game went.
Live deer found in car’s hatchback during traffic stop : WRAL.com
I drive a hatchback and while it has a decent cargo area, I can’t imagine fitting a whole live deer back there.