Injury News from the First Week of Packers OTAs….
Josh Jacobs, Zach Tom, and Tucker Kraft did not practise on Tuesday, but Christian Watson and Eric Stokes demonstrated their quickness during Packers OTAs.
Green Bay, Wisconsin – Six Green Bay Packers players, including running back Josh Jacobs, right lineman Zach Tom, and tight end Tucker Kraft, will miss the start of organised team activities due to injury.
Former All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs, one of the Packers’ key free-agent signings, is out with a hamstring injury. Throughout the first half of practice, he worked with a trainer on the far sideline. Coach Matt LaFleur was quick to add, possibly in reference to the hamstring problems that sidelined receiver Christian Watson and cornerback Eric Stokes for big stretches of last season: “He’s working through a small hamstring issue. I know everyone is going to panic out, but he’s on the mend, doing well, and we expect him back soon.” In Jacobs’ absence, AJ Dillon took over as the starting back.
Zach Tom, perhaps the team’s best offensive lineman last season, tore his pectoral muscle while lifting weights prior to the draft. “No long-term concern,” LaFleur said. “He will be a guy that we anticipate back for camp.” However, this may not be the beginning of camp. Tom assumed it would be mid-August, a few of weeks into camp but still a few weeks before the season.
When a player in a position that requires strength is unable to utilise one of his arms, how does he maintain his strength? “I can’t use the injured arm so I can work out the other one,” stated the man. “They have certain stuff in there that will allow me to work this out without utilising a lot of weight. So, I’ve been doing all of this. Just rolling with the punches, trying to get back as quickly as possible while still being cautious because, obviously, you don’t want to make things worse.”
In Tom’s absence, the No. 1 offence was led by veteran Andre Dillard and youngster Jordan Morgan, both first-round picks.
TE Tucker Kraft
Tucker Kraft, one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL late last season, said his pectoral “popped right off the bone” when lifting weights about ten days ago. He anticipated he’d miss the start of training camp but not the games.
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