The Green Bay Packers are dealing with a couple of injuries, none bigger than the loss of defensive end Lukas Van Ness, who is dealing with a foot issue. In his Monday press conference, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said the following about Van Ness’ status going into this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers: “I’m not overly optimistic, but we’ll see.”
With Van Ness out, rookie defensive end Barryn Sorrell has had to pick up the pace behind Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare.
Sorrell is often the team’s third defensive end playing defensive tackle in the Packers’ “Cheetah” packages, originally designed to get Parsons, Gary and Van Ness on the field together.
Other injuries on Green Bay’s roster include players like Dontayvion Wicks (calf), tackle Anthony Belton (ankle), defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee) and kicker Brandon McManus (quad). LaFleur wasn’t asked about those other injuries on Monday.
Van Ness missed all of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals after being injured during the win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Between his injury and Wyatt still being out of the lineup, the Packers’ defensive line is stretched very thin. Even with Sorrell playing defensive tackle snaps, backup defensive tackles had to play over 100 snaps for Green Bay against Arizona in Week 7.
