The timing of the Green Bay Packers’ bye week couldn’t be more ideal. This club needed a time to recover and take a step back after losing to the Detroit Lions and narrowly defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As usual, wounded players also benefited greatly from the bye week. And following the bye, head coach Matt LaFleur announced some fantastic injury news ahead of Sunday’s NFC North game against the Chicago Bears.
Josh Myers, Evan Williams, and Jaire Alexander all have “optimistic” outlooks and are expected to play again in Week 11.
This season, all three of those Packers have been crucial in making the difference, and they were all absent from the 10-point defeat to the Lions prior to the bye. These reinforcements ought to have a big effect.
Alexander is undoubtedly an important member of the secondary in the defensive backfield, and his absence drastically alters Jeff Hafley’s ability to invoke covering tactics.
Williams, a rookie, has also had a significant influence in his own right. From Week 5 when he entered the starting lineup until Week 8 when he was injured, the Packers were 4-0. In two of those games, he played every defensive snap for the club, and according to PFF, he is the team’s second-highest graded defender of the season, behind only Xavier McKinney.
Myers may not feel as significant on the opposite side of the ball because he has often struggled up front and frequently irritates supporters. However, offensive line continuity is sometimes greatly underestimated. For the past two seasons, Myers has started every game, and a center’s influence extends beyond their individual output.
The fact that the three have an easier opponent while they catch up on their returns is also a plus. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Packers are 6.5-point away favorites against the struggling Bears before facing the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12, which is a much riskier game.
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