As the playoffs draw to a close, the Green Bay Packers could be without several key players for Sunday night’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.Freshman standout Jaden Reed practiced for two days after last week’s win over Carolina, explosive wide receiver Christian Watson was ruled out with a hamstring injury and rookie Dontayvion Weeks didn’t practice after suffering a pectoral injury in the end of last week. .
If that happens, the Packers will enter the NFC elimination game with four healthy receivers on the 53-man roster: Romeo Dubs, Reed, Samory Toure and Malik Heath. Bo Melton has played the past two weeks and is no longer on the practice squad. However, due to Jayre Alexander’s suspension, there is still room left on the 53rd hole.Watson, Weeks (chest), linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (neck) and left guard Elseyton Jenkins (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday. Of the four, only Jenkins joined his teammates at the start of individual practice.
Reed and safety Darnell Savage (shoulder), who missed the game against Carolina, will practice for the second straight day. That includes Luke Musgrave, who was due to return from injured reserve last week but did not start training until Wednesday. He has missed the last five games with a kidney injury and is at least a week away from returning. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Jared Hall will be the team’s starting quarterback. It was Hall who filled in for veteran Kirk Cousins after he suffered an Achilles tendon injury last October at Lambeau Field in Minnesota.
Hall replaces Nick Mullens, who threw for 714 yards but six interceptions in back-to-back losses to the Bengals and Lions.Hall, a fifth-round pick, has completed eight of 10 passes for 10 yards this season. He started against Atlanta a week after Cousins went down but suffered a concussion.”I think he’s done a great job of learning and stepping into that rookie role,” Jefferson said this week.
“I think Jaren is a great defender. “If we let him play there, he can spark the offense, but we’re going to trust whoever comes in.”Hall was the 164th pick in the draft. He was acquired after Green Bay selected quarterback Sean Clifford with the 149th pick and Wicks with the 159th pick.
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