Packers-Seahawks Injury Report: Bulaga Added Just Hours Before Kickoff

Illness continues to be a concern as kickoff approaches for Sunday night's NFC playoff game between the Packers and Seahawks

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jan 12, 2020 5:24 PM EST

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Illness has swept through the Green Bay Packers’ locker room, with the latest round coming at just about the worst possible time.

On Sunday, about 5 hours before kickoff for tonight’s NFC Divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, right tackle Bryan Bulaga and backup offensive lineman Alex Light were added to the injury report and listed as questionable.

Bulaga’s availability obviously would be critical against Seattle’s top defensive lineman, Jadeveon Clowney.

“Once you’ve been out of it for two years like we were with the playoffs, you appreciate these so much more,” Bulaga, who missed part of the Week 17 game at Detroit with a concussion, said earlier in the week. “It’s not a guarantee every year that you’re going to be in, so being here you’re trying to relate to guys who havne’t been here that every play matters, every snap matters. The momentum shifts in playoffs are like nothing else. You get everything going your way and then all of a sudden one play happens and everything swings. Just making sure you’re continuing to relay to the guys that it’s not just, ‘Oh, that happened, let’s move on.’ You have to make sure you’re dialed in every snap and ready to go every snap.”

Clowney has been battling a core-muscle injury but was not listed on the final injury report.

“Yes. You feel it," he told reporters in Seattle. “Your adrenaline cuts the edge off of it though. Until you get done and you get ready to get on the plane. But it cuts the edge off when you get out there and get going. It’s the game, it’s part of the game. So, you don’t pay no attention, you just play with it.”

On Friday, coach Matt LaFleur listed defensive tackle Kenny Clark as questionable with a sore back, and defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster, fullback Danny Vitale and running back Dexter Williams also were questionable due to illness.

During the bye week, left tackle David Bakhtiari missed both practices due to illness. When the team got back to work on Monday, left guard Elgton Jenkins was absent due to illness.

Seattle’s offensive line also has some doubts ahead of kickoff. On Friday, coach Pete Carroll called left tackle Duane Brown a game-time decision. He had knee surgery less than three weeks ago. Left guard Mike Iupati (stinger) was listed as doubtful.

The Packers on Friday put their finishing touches on their on-the-field preparation for Sunday’s game with a practice that lasted about 70 minutes. Some of that practice was conducted outside; the forecast for kickoff is 23 degrees and a light wind from the northeast and a chance for an inch or so of snow.

“I thought everybody’s locked in, focused, ready to go,” LaFleur said on Friday. “We’re really practicing with a purpose. We know we have a great challenge and we’re going to need everybody’s best. … I thought our guys were pretty intentional and had a pretty good focus throughout the course of the season. I think there’s some excitement there, as well.”

PACKERS INJURY REPORT

Questionable: RT Bryan Bulaga (illness), DT Kenny Clark (back), DT Tyler Lancaster (illness), OT Alex Light (illness), RB Dan Vitale (knee/illness), RB Dexter Williams (illness).

SEAHAWKS INJURY REPORT

Doubtful: G Mike Iupati (neck).

Questionable: DE Ezekiel Ansah (neck), S Marquise Blair (ankle), LT Duane Brown (knee), T George Fant (groin), DT Quinton Jefferson (ankle).