GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur says running back Aaron Jones’ knee injury makes him “highly unlikely” to play against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, but he won’t have to go on injured reserve.
“I’m relieved it’s not something long-term,” LaFleur said on Tuesday.
Jones, who was carted to the locker room late in the second quarter of Green Bay’s 23-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, is one of 17 Packers listed as injured heading into Thursday’s game.
RELATED: Check out the updated FOX Sports app.
Luke Musgrave, a tight end, is one of the most notable cases. Musgrave’s abdominal injury necessitated a trip to the hospital, according to LaFleur, who added that “certainly it was a scary situation.”
“He’s got a pretty significant injury,” said LaFleur. “I think it just speaks to his toughness, because he didn’t say anything all game, and then something came up.”
Musgrave was later discharged from the hospital. LaFleur was asked if Musgrave would be placed on injured reserve.
“We’ll see,” said LaFleur. “We’re kind of working through everything right now.”
Green Bay’s precarious running back situation became clear when Jones was injured and Emanuel Wilson injured his shoulder late in the second quarter during the same series. With their departures, the Packers’ only available running back was AJ Dillon.
The Packers (4-6) reacted by signing Patrick Taylor from the Patriots’ practice squad and adding James Robinson to theirs. The Packers are attempting to avoid a rematch with Detroit (8-2), in which they were outrushed 211-27 in a 34-20 loss to the Lions on Sept. 28.
SIGN UP TODAY: FOX6 News will send you daily headlines and breaking news emails.
Taylor saw the injuries while watching the Packers-Chargers game and wondered if his former team would contact him.
Taylor said that “literally two minutes, three minutes” after making that prediction, his agent called to tell him that Packers director of football operations Russ Ball had contacted him.
“I didn’t pick up because I didn’t see it,” Taylor, who played 27 games for the Packers from 2021-23, explained. “He dialed my wife’s number.” She was sitting next to me on the couch when she handed me the phone and said, ‘Hey, we’re going back to Green Bay.'”
Taylor’s familiarity with the system should help him contribute right away, according to the Packers. Taylor appeared in four games for the Packers this season before being let go on October 10.
DOWNLOAD FOR FREE: Breaking news alerts are available in the FOX6 News app for iOS and Android.
“You can’t teach somebody our offense in a day,” Dillon explained. “For him to have been here for as long as he has, a lot of it is already second nature.” He had only been gone for, what, six weeks? He obviously still has a lot of it memorized. It’s huge to have him here to help out on such a short week.”
Robinson is also familiar with the Packers. Earlier this season, he spent a few weeks on Green Bay’s practice squad before being released.
Taylor admitted to being disappointed with how his previous stint in Green Bay ended. Now he has another chance to prove himself.
“It’s a performance-based business,” Taylor explains. “If you’re not performing well or contributing to the team, they’ll let you go.” Sure, it left a bad taste in my mouth, but I’m glad it happened. It provided me with a new perspective on everything going forward. But I’m grateful for the chance to return here, be with my boys, and play with the Packer ‘G.'”
Leave a Reply