November 3, 2024

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Personnel changes could be coming for Packers’…

Personnel changes could be coming for Packers’...



For all the problems with the field-goal operation much of the season, and the disappointing lack of a return game on punts or kickoffs, the Packers’ coverage units were not really a trouble spot until this week. But the sudden breakdowns aren’t being dismissed as a one-off, either.

“They’d been pretty solid, but you don’t want to just say, ‘Oh, that was an anomaly. That was a one-time thing,'” LaFleur said. “No, we’ll never approach it like that.”

Hence the thought of personnel changes with veteran regulars, which carries greater injury risk but might be necessary so a special-teams blunder doesn’t cost the Packers playoff positioning down the stretch, or worse, a playoff game.

Receiver Allen Lazard is another veteran player who has stepped in on special teams in the past. Unfortunately, Randall Cobb is out with an injury or he’d be an option to fill in at punt returner for the rookie Rodgers, who has muffed multiple punts now.

LaFleur didn’t drop any other names, but who takes the field beginning next week at Baltimore on the return and coverage units will be watched closely.

“I think that is something that we’ll ask of some players that have played ‘teams’ before that have been key contributors, and they’re going to have own maybe one phase just for us to get to where we want to go,” LaFleur said. “We know every game is so critical.”

Injury update: Right tackle Billy Turner exited the Bears game in the second quarter with a knee injury, and LaFleur said he’s “hopeful” Turner isn’t out for the season, but he’s still being evaluated.

All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari also could be on track to return to practice this week, if everything with his surgically repaired knee checks out OK come Wednesday. “Hopeful” again was LaFleur’s word.

https://www.packers.com/news/personnel-changes-could-be-coming-for-packers-special-teams