2022 Packers Injuries: When Will They Return?
As we approach Week one of the 2022 NFL regular season, which players will be ready for game one, and who will miss some time? The Packers’ Week one matchup will be against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 11.
Several key playmakers are working to return by Week one of the season. Many of them are starters that will be needed if the Packers want to push for another ring. Who will be ready for game one and who might miss a couple of weeks? The hope is that the main starters all return to decent health and can suit up against the Vikings on Sunday.
Packers Offensive Tackle: David Bakhtiari
David Bakhtiari has been limited since tearing his ACL back in December 2020. He had brief action last season as he only played 27 snaps as he battled back to health. Almost two years later and Bakhtiari is still questionable leading up to Week one for the green and gold. His presence on the line would greatly boost the overall skill of the offense but not unless he’s at least 80 percent healthy. Today, September 5th is the first day that Bakhtiari has participated in team drills, which is a big boost to his return. Week one is uncertain but it sounds like he’ll avoid the PUP list and return to action prior to Week four.
Packers Offensive Guard: Elgton Jenkins
Elgton Jenkins is another offensive lineman who is fighting his way back to starting in Week one. Jenkins tore his ACL in Week 11 last season and while he has recovered well, he has not participated in team drills yet. He has been participating in individual drills since being activated from the PUP list on August 14th. The team is hopeful that he’ll be ready on Sunday but his status is still up in the air. Jenkins has been a stud for the Packers’ offense since he has the ability to play any position on the line.
Packers Safety: Darnell Savage Jr.
Darnell Savage Jr. was a surprise addition to the injury report this season because he was injured during the Packers Family Night practice. He injured his hamstring but is not expected to hinder his Week one availability. At the end of August, Savage was already back on the field and practicing solo. With a thin Safety group due to injuries, Savage will need to be back to game speed by Sunday to make sure that the defense doesn’t skip a beat against the elite Vikings receivers.
Packers Safety: Dallin Leavitt
Dallin Leavitt is another Safety that is currently injured. Leavitt is the only backup to Darnell Savage Jr. since Vernon Scott was waived and added to the team’s injured reserve, so he’ll be out for the season unless an injury settlement arises. Leavitt injured his shoulder on a hit in the first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. Leavitt looks to be a big special teams contributor this season and his Week one availability doesn’t look to be in question. If Savage Jr. misses any action, Leavitt could also get some action on the defense.
Packers Tight End: Robert Tonyan
Robert Tonyan tore his ACL in Week eight last season after a superb 2020 season. Tonyan was activated off the PUP list on August 14th and returned to team drills at the end of August. The coaching staff has not given the media a true timetable for his return but he is trending in the right direction. A Week one return would be a huge boost to the receiving corps of the Packers, even if it is limited snaps. Josiah Deguara will be Tonyan’s backup until he is 100 percent healthy.
Packers Rookie Wide Receiver: Christian Watson
Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson has missed most of training camp and the off-season since having knee surgery. The Packers hope that Watson can be a star receiver for the team once he recovers from his injury. Watson was activated off the PUP list in August and his status for Week one is still unknown. There’s hope that Christian will be available on Sunday against the Vikings but we won’t know for sure until later in the week.
Packers Running Back: Kylin Hill
Kylin Hill is the third running back on the roster after cuts were made. Hill will look to be the RB3 behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon once he is activated off the PUP list. Hill is working to recover from a torn ACL that he suffered last season in October 2021. Luckily for the Packers, Tyler Goodson and Patrick Taylor made it through waivers and were added to the practice squad so they can be made available if needed. Kylin was a rookie running back last year and only appeared in eight games and was mainly used on special teams as a kick returner.
Packers Kicker: Mason Crosby
Mason Crosby had a knee scope surgery in early August that had him added to the PUP list while he recovered. He was activated off the PUP list hours before roster cuts were submitted on August 30th. With the activation of Crosby, backup kicker Ramiz Ahmed was waived. With Crosby being the only kicker on the roster, his Week one availability should not be a question. He will look to start in his 242nd consecutive game in his career with the Packers.
Comentários