Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur answered questions and provided updates on his team on Monday. He is dealing with an on-going off-the-field issue with running back Josh Jacobs and a return-to-play process with edge rusher Micah Parsons while getting his team ready to play the New England Patriots on Sunday.
LaFleur provided status updates on a few players entering Week 9:
On Josh Jacobs: "I would anticipate him being a member of (the Packers) moving forward." More allegations of abuse from Jacobs came out on Friday, and LaFleur said the team will let the NFL's process of investigating the incidents play out. He offered no other comments. "We're going to let everything play out and then go from there."
On Micah Parsons returning to practice:
"That would be the intention. It's gonna be a process trying to get him back. But we're hopeful he'll be able to get out there sometime this week." The reporting over the weekend said Parsons would return to practice this week with eyes on playing on Thanksgiving Eve against the Los Angeles Rams. When Parsons begins practicing, he'll open a 21-day window, and LaFleur suggested he'd take most of the 21 days before he plays in a game.
On Zaire Franklin returning to practice: "Potentially, it's kind of day to day right now. We'll see how he works through the next couple of days." Franklin has missed back-to-back games while dealing with a hairline fracture in his shin. Ty'Ron Hopper has shined during Franklin's absence.
On Kevin Zeitler hitting the wall: "I don't think so. It's like anybody, these guys, he hadn't played football for a long time, he's shown improvement every week. I don't think he's hit the wall at all." Laken Tomlinson moved from left guard to right guard last week with Aaron Banks back in the starting lineup. Zeitler still hasn't played a snap on offense for the Packers.
On the Packers sticking with Trey Smack: "We are." LaFleur said the Packers like Smack's ability to "bounce back." Smack missed an extra point on Thursday night and then made three extra points to finish the game. It sounds like patience will win out with the rookie kicker.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers updates on Josh Jacobs, Micah Parsons, Zaire Franklin, others
