Packers Injuries Update- Bahktiari In?

The Packers injuries seemed extensive during the off-season and throughout training camp but now it seems that the Green Bay Packers are getting healthy just in time for their matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The latest injury report came out Friday afternoon and gave us some insight into who might play on Sunday. The big news of course relates to the top two questions for this Packers offense: How are Elgton Jenkins and David Bahktiari’s recovery from torn ACLs progressing? And, who will be the key offensive weapons for Aaron Rodgers?

The first thing any Packers fan might look for in these early season injury reports are the names of David Bahktiari and Elgton Jenkins. For many fans, their status was the biggest question heading into the 2022 NFL season. The first injury report was a positive one in this respect: both Bahktiari and Jenkins are listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Vikings. This was a sigh of relief considering David Bahktiari was held out of practice Friday which made many believe that he won’t be ready to go on Sunday. However, when asked on whether or not Bahktiari had enough team reps to play on Sunday, Matt LaFleur said, “I think we’ve seen enough, just his ability to go out there and move. He’s looking pretty good.”

That makes it sound like Bahktiari has a real chance of playing Sunday which would be nice considering the Minnesota Vikings pass rush of Danielle Hunter and former Packers edge rusher Za’Darius Smith (who earlier this week made his intentions well known of why he went to Minnesota).

This leads to Elgton Jenkins who hopefully will have an opportunity to defend against one of those formidable pass rushers. Jenkins, who is also recovering from ACL injury from last fall, has been limited in practice this week. He had been practicing during the late stages of training camp when he strangely had to miss a practice last week. This week we found out why (somewhat). Jenkins had somehow injured his pectoral. But, with limited practice all week long and a questionable injury designation for Sunday’s game, Jenkins will have an opportunity to play.

The other injury on the injury report doesn’t look so positive. Allen Lazard is doubtful with an ankle injury. Coach LaFleur earlier this week mentioned that someone had stepped on him last week. Not good. Allen Lazard, barring a miracle, will not play on Sunday for the Green Bay Packers. This is a tough blow for the team considering Lazard has really stood out as the Packers potential number one wide receiver.

Who will be able to step up as the next man? Will it be the Packers second-round pick Christian Watson who has been dealing with a knee injury himself? How about the old vet Randall Cobb? Maybe it’ll be camp darling Romeo Doubs? Or maybe it’s somebody that everybody is sleeping on?

Some of the most positive things that can come out of the injury report is who is not on the injury report. And boy, did we get some good news. Christian Watson was left off of the report and is good to go for Sunday. Mason Crosby will continue his active streak for consecutive games played for the Packers which will be his 242nd.

And finally, another important nonmention on the injury report, Robert Tonyan is ready to go for Sunday’s game. Robert Tonyan is someone that nobody seems to be talking about. Last season, he was having a somewhat mediocre year before suffering an ACL tear midway through the campaign. If Tonyan is ready to go, watch for him to have a big game. Aaron Rodgers has full faith in his tight end, as mentioned by Aaron Jones on Friday.

Aaron Rodgers may not have had much time to build a connection with Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Sammy Watkins– but he has with Robert Tonyan, whose stock is seemingly on the rise.

Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.

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