Green Bay Packers Finally Healthy at the Right Time

The Green Bay Packers have rarely been one of the league’s healthier teams.  Their Injured Reserve fills up annually with starters from both sides of the ball, testing the depth of their roster and the resourcefulness of their coaching staff.  2014 seems different, however, with the Packers operating close to full strength just in time for the stretch run.

The Packers’ Inured Reserve still isn’t empty this year, with the most notable names being DT B.J. Raji and OL Don Barclay, but the injuries have come in a much more manageable volume.  Heading into their Week 11 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Lists just four players in their injury report:  Brandon Bostick (Hip), Jayrone Elliott (Hamstring), T.J. Lang (Ankle) and Josh Sitton (Toe).

Both Sitton and Lang are critical to the success on offense, especially on the ground, so their situations should be monitored closely.  They both saw limited action in practice on Thursday, though, and should be able to play regularly without practicing fully until they are healed.

This is a welcome change from 2013, where the Packers sent 15 players to the season-ending Injured Reserve, including Bryan Bulaga, Jermichael Finley and Casey Hayward.  On top of that, Aaron Rodgers missed 7 games with a fractured clavicle, Clay Matthews missed 5 with a broken thumb and Randall Cobb missed 10 with a broken leg.  

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The 2010 Super Bowl season is often remembered for the injuries Green Bay overcame, with 16 players, many of them starters, placed on Injured Reserve.  Injuries are not a kiss of death in the NFL, but Mike McCarthy will surely be pleased with the healthy roster.

Green Bay is showing signs of ramping up their performance towards the playoffs, and they still have ground to make up in the NFC North and NFC Wild Card.  On offense, the Packers look great.  If Eddie Lacy can find the next gear, the offense will be elite.  It is on the defensive side of the ball that Green Bay’s health could benefit them the most.

As I said before the unit’s strong showing against the Chicago Bears, Dom Capers and Mike McCarthy will have to find ways to do more with the pieces they have in-house.  The shift of Clay Matthews to the inside is the perfect example of that, and it was made possible by a healthy depth that was able to fill his traditional ROLB position.

The Packers’ defense could continue to bring more complex pressures in the coming weeks, and Capers is sure to rotate through his depth along the D-Line to keep fresh legs on the field, which will open holes for Matthews and Julius Peppers to create impact plays.

A healthy team is just the start, a small one, but with both units building momentum cohesively, the Green Bay Packers enter a critical stretch of games with all hands on deck, and no excuses.