Packers-Vikings Injury Report: Cobb Returns

Barely one month after sustaining a core-muscle injury that required surgery, Randall Cobb was designated to return from injured reserve and practiced on Thursday.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Dec 30, 2021 6:44 PM EST
Original:
Dec 30, 2021

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Less than a month after core-muscle surgery, Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb returned to practice on Thursday.

While the comebacks of left tackle David Bakhtiari and outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith seem stuck in neutral, Cobb was designated for return from injured reserve. Getting him back for the playoffs would be a lift to an offense that seemingly has hit its stride.

Coach Matt LaFleur announced on Dec 9. that Cobb would be out “a while” following with a “pretty significant injury” that required surgery. That injury has ended more than one season, especially when sustained this late in the season, but Cobb was confident he would return.

“A week after the injury, he (told me), ‘I’ll be back. Don’t worry, I’ll be back,’” receivers coach Jason Vrable said. “He just has that mind-set, and it’s rare, but everything he does around the clock, it’s all football. He has that mental capacity just to push himself harder and harder and harder at everything he does. And he just said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back.’ And for some people, it could have maybe been season ending but, if anybody’s going to come back quick, it’s going to be him. He doesn’t want to miss this playoff opportunity. Right now, he’s just helping guys in the meeting room and doing all that he can do.”

Cobb scored a touchdown just before halftime of the game against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 28 but did not return for the second half. He had suffered a core-muscle injury, and wound up having surgery the following week during the team’s bye.

Thursday was his first practice since the game.

In 12 games, Cobb has caught 28-of-39 targets and generally delivered when the Packers needed him. In that key game against the Rams, he provided a big chunk of the first-half offense by catching 4-of-5 balls for 95 yards and one touchdown. He scored two touchdowns apiece against Pittsburgh and Arizona, the latter coming with Davante Adams, Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling out of the lineup.

“It’d mean everything, just for his contribution on offense and special teams,” slot corner Chandon Sullivan said on Thursday of Cobb returning. “It’s a veteran leader in the locker room. I remember our battles in training camp – he definitely got me better – and it was cool to actually have him on my team vs. going against him, which I’d done the past two seasons.”

The Packers have ample history with core-muscle injuries. Last season, receiver Allen Lazard suffered one at the end of his monster game at New Orleans. Lazard had surgery and was out seven weeks before returning to the lineup, but didn’t have an impact game for nearly three months.

In 2018, receiver Geronimo Allison missed the second half of the season following core-muscle surgery. In 2016, cornerback Damarious Randall had core-muscle surgery, missed five games and never got back to form. In 2012, receiver Greg Jennings had core-muscle surgery and was on the field almost exactly one month later.

Green Bay’s injury report was unchanged from Wednesday, meaning quarterback Aaron Rodgers and offensive tackles David Bakhtiari and Billy Turner did not practice.

For Minnesota, safety Harrison Smith, who did not participate on Wednesday, and running back Dalvin Cook, who was limited on Wednesday, were full participation. Top cornerback Cameron Dantzler, however, suffered a calf injury and did not practice.