Here’s the bad news up front: Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard, who has been starting for the team as a nickelback this year, went from a limited participant on Wednesday to a non-participant on Thursday.
His injury designation remains as “ankle,” so it’s possible that he’s had a setback with the ankle injury that he’s been pushing through for several weeks now.
If Bullard can’t go on Sunday, the next man up in the slot will be cornerback Nate Hobbs, who himself has been limited this week with a knee injury and hasn’t played for several weeks. If Hobbs can’t go, the third option in the slot will likely be Kitan Oladapo, who has played two snaps on defense this season as the team’s second slot in prevent defense looks.
Packers’ Non-Participants
- WR Savion Williams (foot)
- DE Lukas Van Ness (foot)
- DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle)
- S Javon Bullard (ankle)
Beyond Bullard, the other three non-participants in Thursday’s practice were expected. Both receiver Savion Williams and defensive end Lukas Van Ness missed last week’s game against the Detroit Lions, while defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt will soon go on season-ending injured reserve with his ankle injury.
Packers’ Limited Participants
- RB Josh Jacobs (knee)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd (calf, IR)
- WR Jayden Reed (foot/shoulder, IR)
- WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle)
- WR Matthew Golden (wrist)
- RT Zach Tom (back)
- DE Collin Oliver (hamstring, PUP)
- DE Brenton Cox Jr. (shoulder, IR)
- DT Karl Brooks (ankle)
- CB Nate Hobbs (knee)
Notably, the Packers made linebackers Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper, along with defensive end Barryn Sorrell, full participants on Thursday. Yesterday, they were just limited participants. Walker has missed the last several weeks with a stinger. Thankfully, it looks like he’ll be ready to go against Chicago, who have one of the better run games in the NFL.
Receiver Matthew Golden, defensive tackle Karl Brooks and cornerback Nate Hobbs remain limited, though, which could cause some stress for Green Bay. All three of those players were inactive against the Lions, and there are other injuries at each position.
Golden, Williams and Jayden Reed (still on the injured reserve and a limited participant in practice) were not able to suit up against Detroit, forcing Green Bay to bring up practice squad receiver Will Sheppard up to the 53-man roster last week. It’s possible that Sheppard gets a practice squad elevation against the Bears.
Brooks is set to be Wyatt’s replacement at the three-technique position. Notably, the Packers added a nose tackle, not an undertackle, when they poached Jordon Riley from the New York Giants’ practice squad this week. If Brooks can’t go, they’ll have just one undertackle (Warren Brinson) and three nose tackles (Colby Wooden, Nazir Stackhouse and Riley) versus Chicago. On top of that Van Ness usually kicks inside to play some three-technique reps in obvious pass-rushing situations, and it’s unlikely that he plays this week.
Hobbs would be the replacement starter for Bullard, if Bullard can’t go. So the team would be down to their third slot option if neither dresses down.
It’s also worth mentioning here that running back MarShawn Lloyd was placed on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He’s currently listed with a calf injury, but not a hamstring injury. So the reason why he’s limited in practice is for a different reason than why he was originally shut down at the start of the season.
Bears’ Non-Participants
- WR Rome Odunze (foot)
- LB Ruben Hyppolite II (shoulder)
- CB Tyrique Stevenson (hip)
Running back Kyle Monangai (ankle) had his status improved from an estimated non-participant on Wednesday to a limited participant on Thursday. As a reminder, the Bears did not practice on Wednesday, but they did on Tuesday. Because of the early practice, Chicago did not have to report an injury update to the league for that day’s work.
Receiver Romeo Odunze, the Bears’ leading receiver, remains out with a foot injury. He was estimated to be a non-participant on Wednesday, too. Keep an eye on linebacker T.J. Edwards, who is dealing with both hand and hamstring issues. This is the first week that he’s practiced with the team since October, and he could possibly play against the Packers on Sunday.
