Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur spoke at length about the Packers’ injuries sustained during Week 4 in his Monday press conference. According to LaFleur, the team will attempt to replace linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who is out for the year with a ruptured Achilles, with some combination of Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper — not a shocking revelation, since that’s what we saw on Sunday.
Beyond Cooper, LaFleur stated that cornerback Brandon Cisse is not in the concussion protocol and that his neck injury is not “anything long-term.” Cisse dropped out against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a neck injury and was being evaluated for a concussion. Carrington Valentine replaced him at right cornerback on Sunday.
Running back Chris Brooks, who was out-snapping all other Packers running backs through four weeks before his injury against Tampa, is still having his ankle evaluated, so his status is pretty open-ended. If Green Bay is out Brooks, look for Green Bay to elevate running back Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad — potentially with the 53-man roster spot that Cooper has now opened up.
On the topic of edge defender Micah Parsons, LaFleur said that Parsons will not practice this week but that the All-Pro is doing his best to get back on the field quickly. LaFleur claimed that Parsons made up ground in the last week or so, but that “where and when he’ll be available, time will tell.”
There were no updates on the four other players on the Packers’ IR-designated to return list or their physically unable to perform list: receiver Savion Williams (IR-DFR), tight end Luke Musgrave (PUP), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (PUP) and edge rusher Collin Oliver (IR-DFR). Like Parsons, these players were all first eligible to return to practice in Week 3, with a full return available starting in Week 5, based on the NFL’s rules.