Packers-Chiefs Wednesday Injury Report: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon Did Not Practice
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Before heading out for Wednesday’s practice, the Green Bay Packers, as usual, went through stretching inside the Don Hutson Center.
Receiver Jayden Reed was at his usual spot with some of the rookie receivers before walking to the back of the Hutson Center toward the exercise equipment. Cornerback Jaire Alexander was at his usual spot in front of some of the defensive backs before he headed to the exercise bikes. It was the same deal with running back AJ Dillon.
Fellow running back Aaron Jones went through the full pre-practice routine. He jogged to the doors leading to the practice field and exchanged high-fives with about half the team before heading off to rehab work.
Those were the four players – all key performers – who did not head out for the start of practice on Wednesday ahead of Sunday night’s marquee matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, though Alexander later joined them as limited participation.
While tight end Josiah Deguara returned to practice, the Packers at least to start the week are precariously thin at running back and lacking some key firepower in the passing game.
With Jones and Dillon sidelined and Emanuel Wilson on injured reserve, the running backs available for position coach Ben Sirmans on Wednesday were Patrick Taylor, who the team plucked off the Patriots’ practice squad last week, undrafted rookie Ellis Merriweather, who’s on the practice squad, and veteran James Robinson, who was re-signed to the practice squad.
“We’re just trying to get him healthy,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Dillon, who was questionable for the Detroit game with a groin injury; that’s the injury that has held him out to start the week.
At receiver, Reed and fellow second-round draft pick Luke Musgrave had emerged as key weapons in Green Bay’s fast-improving passing attack. However, Reed, after getting six touches for 50 yards and the opening touchdown against Detroit, is banged up and Musgrave, who was on the cusp of shattering the Packers’ rookie records in catches and yards by a tight end, is on injured reserve.
To add to the depth, the Packers re-signed running back James Robinson and receiver Bo Melton to the practice squad and added tight end Joel Wilson to the practice squad.
Against the Lions on Thursday, Jones (knee), Alexander (shoulder), Deguara (hip), safety Rudy Ford (biceps), linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (stinger) and receiver Dontayvion Wicks (concussion/knee) were inactive. Alexander, Ford, Campbell, Wicks and Deguara were all limited participation on Wednesday, so the Packers are feeling better after an extended break.
Cornerback Eric Stokes and safety Darnell Savage, who have been designated for return from injured reserve, practiced on Monday and again on Wednesday. Savage was full participation so seems poised to return to the starting lineup after missing the last five games with a calf injury.
At cornerback, Alexander has missed six of 11 games due to back and shoulder injuries. Rookie Carrington Valentine has started seven games and Corey Ballentine, who opened the year on the practice squad, has started three games.
The two-time All-Pro’s presence would obviously be a big deal against MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“This is a very explosive unit, one of the best in the league. There’s not many quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes out there,” LaFleur said. Of Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, he continued: “It’s one of the best combinations in all of the National Football League.”
Jones suffered a knee injury against the Chargers in Week 11. Limited by an early-season hamstring injury, he’s rushed for 245 yards in seven games.
“I would probably say more so some frustration with him because he obviously wants to be out there,” running backs coach Ben Sirmans said, “but one of the things he has been doing that has kind of taken hold this year is being a leader.
“So, even when he’s not out there … he’ll be the guy that’s in the huddle and just letting everybody know, ‘Hey, we’ve got to go, trying to keep guys encouraged while at the same time trying to keep himself encouraged. So, it’s been frustrating for him, but he’s such a positive figure and just knows that, ‘Hey, me moping around or me pouting about it is not going to help the situation. I’ve got to get ready and be ready and try to come back as fast as I can.’”
The Packers have 15 players on their injury report, including 12 who did not practice or were limited. The Chiefs have eight players, including only two who did not practice or were limited. One of them is standout linebacker Nick Bolton, who was designated to return from injured reserve earlier in the day.
Packers Wednesday Injury Report
DNP: RB AJ Dillon (groin), RB Aaron Jones (knee), WR Jayden Reed (chest).
Questionable: CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder), LB De’Vondre Campbell (neck), DT Kenny Clark (shoulder), TE Josiah Deguara (hip), S Rudy Ford (biceps), OLB Rashan Gary (shoulder), CB Eric Stokes (hamstring), WR Dontayvion Wicks (knee), CB Robert Rochell (calf).
Full: CB Keisean Nixon (wrist), S Darnell Savage (calf), DT Devonte Wyatt (heel).
Chiefs Wednesday Injury Report
DNP: RB Jerick McKinnon (groin).
Limited: LB Nick Bolton (wrist).
Full: S Bryan Cook (biceps), WR Skyy Moore (knee), WR Rashee Rice (foot), LT Donovan Smith (neck), CB L’Jarius Sneed (knee), WR Kadarius Toney (ankle/hip).
