GREEN BAY, Wis. – Packers already knew they had lost a starting player for the rest of the season and were worried about the possibility of losing another game.
That’s just part of the fallout from Sunday 15-9 lose in Detroit Lion of which nine players were injured or required medical treatment.
The heaviest is for those who pave the road outside Rashan Gary, who had an ACL tear in his right knee. Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed on Monday that Gary’s season is over.
LaFleur also said there is concern that the hidden corner Eric Stokes‘The injury was serious enough to end the season. Stokes had to warm up with his right foot and was on crutches after he injured his ankle and knee.
Gary is the Packers’ most efficient passer and perhaps their best defensive player this season with six dribbles and 31 presses. According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, he ranks third in the NFL for pressure over Sunday’s games.
“It’s a huge loss – not just from a production standpoint obviously, man, he’s a guy who just competes at the highest level,” LaFleur said. “He’s one of the bravest on this team. And just the effort he brings every day is bound to be missed. Others around that defence and on our team will have to. Pick it up because it’s hard to replace a guy like that.”
Gary, a first-round draft pick in 2019, is a leading candidate for a contract extension. The Packers exercised a fifth-year option on his rookie contract, and that’s guaranteed for $10.89 million. Now, it remains unclear whether he will be ready for next season.
Receiver Romeo Doubs and run again Aaron Jones both suffered ankle injuries against the Lions. LaFleur won’t rule out the possibility that Jones could play on Sunday with Dallas Cowboys. Doubs’ injury, while not ending the season, could keep him out for weeks.
Two other players, receiver Christian Watson and linebacker Krys Barnes, was taken off the field to be evaluated for concussion and did not end the game. Barnes was included in the concussion protocol, but LaFleur said Monday that Watson was not concussion even though he was restrained for the rest of the game.
“It’s all a precaution, and I think it’s just the moment we’re living in now and with what’s happened compared to Buffalo,” LaFleur said. “But can say with 100% certainty that it wasn’t a concussion. In fact, he’s dying to get back in the game, and we think it’s best to shut him down because of what happened at home. Buffalo.”
While all that’s going on, settle on the left David BakhtiariRecurrent knee problems kept him out for most of the second half; he’s back for the last Packers series. Right guard Jon Runyan (knees) and tight ends Robert Tonyan (cramps) also briefly exited the game but returned.
The Packers (3-6) have lost five games in a row and drew the Cowboys (6-2) on Sunday.
