While the big news coming out of Thursday’s practice was the absence of slot cornerback Javon Bullard, the Green Bay Packers did make three upgrades on the updated Week 14 injury report.
Bullard went from limited on Wednesday to did not participate on Thursday, suggesting a setback with his lingering ankle injury. But the Packers got good news elsewhere on defense, where linebackers Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper and rookie edge rusher Barryn Sorrell were upgraded to full participants at Thursday’s practice.
The Walker upgrade is especially significant. The starting inside linebacker missed back-to-back games after suffering a stinger injury in New York in Week 11, but given his participation status this week at practice, Walker is almost certain to return on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
Cooper is getting healthy while playing through foot and shoulder injuries. He’s no longer listed with a foot injury, and he was a full participant on Thursday despite the shoulder injury.
The Packers will need both Walker and Cooper at their best against the Bears run game on Sunday.
It appears the big questions marks for the Packers entering Friday’s final injury report are with Bullard, who is trending in the wrong direction, and receiver Jayden Reed, who is practicing again this week but hasn’t yet been activated to the 53-man roster.
The final injury report arrives Friday afternoon and will include status designations.
The Bears made two changes: running back Kyle Monangai returned as a limited participant after missing Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury, and guard Joe Thuney got a day off for veteran’s rest. Receiver Rome Odunze missed practice for the second straight day because of a foot injury. So did cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip) and linebacker Ruben Hyppolite (shoulder).
In addition to Javon Bullard, the Packers were without defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot), receiver Savion Williams (foot) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (ankle, expected to go on IR) on Thursday.