Retour
GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers will be without two starters on the offensive line and will keep their fingers crossed that receiver Matthew Golden is healthy enough to play against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, Oct. 29.
Center Sean Rhyan suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Detroit Lions and wasn’t expected to play this week, but the coaches found out the day after the game that right guard Travis Glover suffered a knee injury.
Glover finished the game against the Lions, but the team has ruled him out against the Panthers on their Wednesday injury report.
In addition, linebacker Zaire Franklin (shin) is out.
The Packers have several options to replace Rhyan and Glover, but coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich wouldn’t say how they plan to line up.
Second-year pro John Williams played well at center despite never playing the position in college or the pros. The Packers started working him at center during the offseason and in training camp, but they considered him more of a backup left tackle than a backup center.
The Packers must decide whether to start veteran guards Aaron Banks and Kevin Zeitler. Banks returned last week from a knee injury, but did not play against the Lions. Free agent Laken Tomlinson continued to fill in for Banks at left guard.
Zeitler has not played since signing Oct. 3. He was active two weeks ago against Chicago but was inactive against Detroit. The coaches have said Zeitler was working to become familiar with the offense and they preferred to go with Glover at right guard.
Golden, who has shoulder and foot injuries, is listed as questionable. He was removed from the game against the Lions briefly but returned and finished.
The Packers are conducting only walk-throughs leading up to the game, but Golden was estimated as a non-participant for normal practices all three days of the injury report. Golden leads the team with 36 catches and ranks second with 540 yards and three touchdowns.
If Golden can’t play, second-year pro Savion Williams probably would move into the starting lineup and rookie J. Michael Sturdivant would receive an increase in playing time. Williams has caught seven passes for 79 yards in the two games since coming off injured reserve.
Also listed as questionable were defensive tackle Anthony Campbell (ankle), edge defender Brenton Cox Jr. (thigh) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (ankle). All three were listed as limited participants in the Friday practice, so the chances of them playing appear good.