Packers-Broncos Inactives: Alexander Among Two Starters Who Won’t Play
GREEN BAY, Wis. – For all the consternation over the Green Bay Packers’ injury report, only two starters are inactive for Sunday’s game at the Denver Broncos.
Of the seven starters who were questionable or doubtful, here’s who’s in and who’s out:
Packers Starters Who Are Inactive
CB Jaire Alexander: After missing two games with a back injury, Alexander returned to deliver a strong performance against the Raiders before the bye. However, his back flared up on Thursday and he is inactive. There’s nothing structurally wrong with his back, a source said, and the Packers hope the week off will finally get him past the issue.
Rookie Carrington Valentine will joins Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon as the starters. Eric Stokes will be the next man up.
LB De’Vondre Campbell: Was doubtful and will miss a third consecutive game with an ankle injury.
Packers Starters Who Are Active
RB Aaron Jones: After missing the Las Vegas game after he tweaked the hamstring injury originally sustained in Week 1, Jones practiced all week as limited participation. He said the bye came at the right time. Overnight, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported Jones would play.
The return of one of the team’s proven playmakers to face a ghastly run defense could have a ripple effect on the rest of the offense.
“They might put more emphasis on the run and on stopping Aaron Jones,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “When you’ve got everybody out there, it puts more stress on the defense to try to figure out what they want to do and how they want to stop everybody and who they want to stop that day.”
LG Elgton Jenkins: It was a bit ominous when Jenkins wasn’t on the field for the start of practice on Thursday. It was worse when he didn’t practice at all on Friday. However, he is active.
DT Devonte Wyatt: Wyatt, who has emerged as one of the better interior rushers in the NFL in Year 2, was limited participation all week with a knee injury but his availability never was in doubt.
LB Quay Walker: Walker missed most of the Week 5 game at Las Vegas with a knee injury. He practiced as limited participation all week. On Thursday, he acknowledged the injury – coming on a tackle by teammate Isaiah McDuffie – didn’t look good but that he’d be ready for the game.
S Darnell Savage: The veteran safety missed the second half of the Las Vegas game with a calf injury sustained when he went for an interception.
“It literally happened on that play,” he said. “It was frustrating. I wanted to go back in there but I wanted to be smart at the same time. I know these guys are relying on me to be here and be available.”
He practiced all week as limited participation. “I feel good. Smiling a lot, happy, excited. Another opportunity this week, so I feel good,” he said.
Eric Stokes Is Active
Also of note, cornerback Eric Stokes will make his season debut. He suffered a foot injury that required season-ending surgery exactly 350 days ago at Detroit. The Packers activated him off the physically unable to perform list on Saturday.
“Evaluating him coming out of Georgia, he’s still the same guy,’ defensive passing-game coordinator Greg Williams said. “He’s fast, he’s a good cover guy. What you like about Eric is he’s his own worst critic, so he works really hard on his craft and what he’s doing. So, I’m excited. I can’t wait till he’s back fully.”
The Packers had 10 players on their final injury report of the week.
The other inactives are receiver Malik Heath, safety Zayne Anderson and offensive tackle Caleb Jones. They are all healthy scratches.
The Broncos, after placing promising tight end Greg Dulcich on injured reserve on Saturday to make room for the return of impact linebacker Baron Browning, had zero players on their final injury report.
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