The green bay packers did not practice on tuesday, as they had 15 players on their first injury report of the week before facing the san francisco 49ers in a divisional-round playoff game on saturday night. Cornerback jaire alexander would have had a limited playing time if they had practiced.
That’s something to be proud of. Alexander rolled his ankle during practice last week, but it was rebuilt into a leading role in the playoff victory over the dallas cowboys with a crucial first-quarter intercept that gave the packers a 14-0 lead.
However, with about 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter, he turned the ankle while coming up to make a tackle.alexander did not return to action, and it had nothing to do with the lopsided result. Coach matt lafleur said on monday, “i don’t think he would have retreated back in, but i don’t know.” “i think we’ll hear more about him over the course of the week, and that he’ll be able to play because he contributes a lot to our team,” he said. And it was cool to see him play the way he did in a game of this magnitude.“lafleur had 15 players on his first injury report of the week.
Outside linebacker kingsley Enagbare suffered a serious knee injury late in the game. “i can’t say enough positives about him, and i can’t wait to see his progress from last year to this year, his contributions not only on defense but also on teams, and i just love his play style, his relentless pursuit of the football,” lafleur said. “in that game of physicality we preach, the hustle to the ball,” lafleur said, the rest of the team’s outside linebackers, as well as position coach jason rebrovich, had gathered around enagbare to support him with mental and physical pain.
These guys are all hurting for him. We’re all hurting for him,” lafleur said. “he’s come so far, and he just shows up with the right approach, the right attitude every day. It’s obviously disappointing for him and our football team that he’s in this situation.” Rashan Gary and preston smith are on the field together and then replaced by Enagbare and first-round pick lukas van ness. Brenton cox is the next man up for Enagbare, an undrafted rookie who has played in four games, playing four games on defense and nine on special teams.
His last game was in detroit on thanksgiving, and his last games on defense were in week 6 at denver. The bye week in san francisco did wonders for star running back christian mccaffrey, who was in full participation. Four players did not practice: left tackle trent williams, linebacker dre greenlaw, and safety logan ryan. Coach kyle shanahan said the three will begin practicing on wednesday. Shanahan said of mccaffrey, who led the nfl in scrimmage yardage, “i think he’s geared up and ready to go.” “same as last year. He was probably the same as he was in his playoff game when he was 5 years old. The same thing goes for christian life. He’s always waiting for that moment. He’s been waiting for this moment for a long time.’
Packers Injury Report
DNP: RB AJ Dillon (thumb/neck), OLB Kingsley Enagbare (knee), LG Elgton Jenkins (knee/ankle), LB Isaiah McDuffie (neck), OLB Preston Smith (ankle).
Unavailable: CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder/ankle), DT Kenny Clark (back), OLB Rashan Gary (knee), RB Aaron Jones (knee/finger), CB Keisean Nixon (toe), S Jonathan Owens (knee), WR Jayden Reed (chest), S Darnell Savage (shoulder/calf), WR Christian Watson (hamstring).
