GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Even though the Packers took the day to catch their breath before the short run up to the Thanksgiving Day rematch with NFC North leading Detroit, there was plenty going on at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. The first injury report of the week came out despite no practice for the squad. The 16 member list drove some personnel moves from General Manager Brian Gutekunst.
Running backs Aaron Jones and Emmanuel Wilson were both among the 6 players who would not have practiced today. Both got cart rides to the locker room on the same offensive series in the second quarter in Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Jones went down on a two yard run with a knee injury. He stayed down for a while, tried hobbling to the sidelines on his own before getting assistance all the way to the blue tent. A few snaps later, Wilson stayed down after getting twisted out of bounds after a seven yard catch, suffering an unusual shoulder injury that ended his day.
The injuries left A.J. Dillon as the lone back in uniform. Jones was scheduled for an MRI on Monday but the Packers were hopeful there was no significant damage.
Gutekunst gave the New England Patriots a call to tell Bill Belicheck to get running back Patrick Taylor on a plane. Taylor has spent most of the past three years with the Packers both on the practice squad and 53 man roster. T0 acquire Taylor from the Pat’s squad, he has to be brought onto the Pack’s 53. Gutekunst also brought back James Robinson, the former Jacksonville Jaguar thousand yard rusher. He spent a couple of weeks on Green Bay’s practice squad before getting released in favor of free agent rookie Ellis Merriweather who is still on board. To make room for Robinson, the Packers cut linebacker Christian Young from the practice squad.
The more surprising move was the cut to make way for Taylor’s return. Gutekunst released veteran special teams player, safety Dallin Leavitt. Special Teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia lobbied to sign the former Las Vegas Raider almost as soon as he got the job. Leavitt was considered the playing mentor while Bisaccia’s system was introduced. He played sparingly at safety. His last play as a Packer won’t soon be forgotten, especially by Head Coach Matt LaFleur.
On the opening kickoff against L.A., Keisean Nixon hit a hole and brought it out 39 yards. Leavitt’s responsibility was sealing the lane to Nixon’s right. He got engaged with a Chargers second year defensive back, Deane Leonard. Leonard latched on and Leavitt grabbed hold and the two stayed locked up until they tumbled to the ground after Nixon had passed. A flag was thrown and Leavitt got nabbed or holding. As Leonard raised his arms to celebrate drawing the flag, Leavitt became incensed acting as if he was grabbed first. The hold wasn’t enough as he let the official who tossed the flag have it. That’s when the official, now without a flag, tossed his hat in the air to assess an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Leavitt which forced the Packers to take their first snap at their own 8 yard line.
When the 5th year veteran got to the bench, LaFleur lit into him. Unfortunately for Leavitt, he was also among the guilty parties in an earlier special teams blunder, the Detroit Lions 76 yard punt return touchdown.
The need for a running back made Leavitt an expendable example and Bisaccia will now plug in another young player to handle his duties.
The rest of that DNP list included De’Vondre Campbell (neck), Josiah Deguara (hip) Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) and Luke Musgrave (abdomen). Musgrave is the only injury that wasn’t announced during the game. Those who would have been limited were Jaire Alexander (shoulder), a good sign after missing the last two games, Rudy Ford (biceps) Kenny Clark, Corey Ballentine, A.J. Dillon, Elgton Jenkins, Keisean Nixon, Christian Watson and safety Darnell Savage. That’s a significant step for the safety who has been on injured reserve with a calf injury since the Denver game. The Packers have designated Savage to return from injured reserve and the team now has a 21 day window to get him ready to play or put him back on IR for the season.
Jordan Love’s 27 of 40 for 322 yard day with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 108.5 has earned him a nomination for this week’s Fed Ex Air Player of the week. It’s his first career nomination after the first 300 yard game of his career. Fans can vote online at NFL.com.
The Packers will cram a week’s worth of preparation on Tuesday with morning meetings, a mid-day light practice and offer up LaFleur and his three coordinators to the media in advance of Green Bay’s 22nd visit to Detroit on the holiday, their first since 2013.
