GREEN BAY, WI – The outlook for the Green Bay Packers for the first week improved on Sunday after coach Matt LaFleur said three key players – the offensive line Elgton Jenkinstight end Robert Tonian A Rookie Receiver Christian Watson – Activated from physically unable to perform list.
While it doesn’t guarantee that the trio will be available at the 9/11 opener at the Minnesota Vikings, it does at least allow for the possibility. Had they remained in the PUP to start the season, they would have to miss at least the first four games. Both Jenkins and Tonian were left out of a tattered ACL from last season, and Watson underwent a right knee scope shortly before training camp.
“It’s like the next step in the process,” LaFleur said Sunday. “It’s not like they’re going to be in group training. But they’re going to be doing solo and with their comeback, now lets you do some walkthroughs, which obviously would be very useful, especially for a guy who hasn’t played in the NFL like Christian. I’ll be there for some guidance.”
However, it can help settle some questions regarding the Packers crime. Jenkins was a professional left guard bowler player in 2020, then played a left tackle last season with the All-Pro team David Bakhtiari (who is still in PUP after having had his third knee surgery since his first left anterior cruciate ligament tear). Jenkins can return to guard or left tackle but can also fill in another gap on right tackle.
The Packers rotated several players in both the right guard and the right tackle throughout training camp. LaFleur even joked that Jenkins could play with a tight end. During his solo work on Sunday, Jenkins practiced the posture and movement of the feet that correct handling would use.
As for where he’s going to play, I think time will tell,” LaFleur said. “I don’t want to stick to the right side. I don’t want to stick to the left side. I don’t want to stick to a tight end.”
It was a relatively quick comeback for Jenkins, who was injured on November 21 in Minnesota.
“I think Elgton did everything everyone asked him to do in terms of the rehab process,” LaFleur said. “He’s been very disciplined and doing the work at it. It will be a huge boost when he’s completely allowed to help us. Because there are not many guys out there, a top seed, as talented as him but also as versatile as he is.”
Tonian sustained an injury nearly a month ago on October 28 in Arizona and left the Lakers without a tight end in the play industry. The previous season, Tonian had 11 touchdown passes in 2020.
Watson, the Packers’ second-round pick, was involved in the entire Offseason program but opted for surgery shortly after June practices to fix bothersome knee pain. It is expected to be part of the plan to help replace the All-Pro receiver Davant Adamswho was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in March, despite fellow rookie Romeo DobbsThe hot start may have pushed him past Watson to start the season.
“I had a conversation with ’12’ earlier today, he was telling me about it, how hard it would be for me, (saying) ‘Make mistakes now, so they don’t happen during the season,'” he said. “To be able to go out and learn from these things and also get the positive things done as well, that’s both positive and negative reinforcement and I’m excited to go out there and make these mistakes and learn from those things and get back on the road.”
Packers still have three players in the PUP: Bakhtiari, Kicker Mason Crosby (knee) running back / kick back Keelen Hill (knee). They also lost safety Dalene Levitt He suffered a major shoulder injury in Friday’s opening game in San Francisco and hit a kicker Ramez Ahmed Sunday after Gabe Brickic He injured his hamstring.