The Packers added linebacker Quay Walker to their injury report on Thursday.
Walker did not participate in the session due to a calf injury. Friday will bring an update on Walker’s condition because the team will issue injury designations for their game against the Panthers.
Linebacker Nick Niemann (pectoral), defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (foot), and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf) missed practice for the second straight day.
Left guard Aaron Banks (calf), running back Josh Jacobs (calf), tackle Jordan Morgan (illness), right tackle Zach Tom (back), wide receiver Christian Watson (knee), quarterback Malik Willis (ankle), and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt (knee) remained limited on Thursday. Kicker Brandon McManus (quad) moved up to full participation.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young remains on track to return to the team’s lineup for their Week 9 game in Green Bay.
Young was a full participant in practice for the second straight day. Young missed last Sunday’s loss to the Bills with an ankle injury, but his practice work so far this week points toward him getting the start.
Friday will bring more word on that as well as on his backup Andy Dalton. Dalton (thumb) returned to practice as a limited participant on Thursday. Right tackle Taylor Moton (knee), safety Nick Scott (groin), and linebacker Trevin Wallace (shoulder) had the same change in status.
Wide receiver Xavier Legette was added to the injury report after missing practice due to an illness. Center Cade Mays (ankle, knee) and linebacker Princely Umanmielen (ankle) missed their second straight day of work. Defensive lineman Derrick Brown (knee), wide receiver Jimmy Horn (shoulder), and guard Chandler Zavala (knee) were listed as full participants.
Nearly six years ago, Matt Rhule parlayed serious interest from the Giants into a seven-year, $62 million contract with the Panthers. Now, in his third season with Nebraska, possible interest in Rhule from other college programs has resulted in a new contract.
Pete Thamel of ESPN.com reports that Rhule has agreed to a two-year extension, which will put him under contract through 2032.
The new deal also increases the buyout from $5 million to $15 million, which as a practical matter takes him out of play for other jobs in the 2026 hiring cycle. Currently, eight Power Four schools are looking for new coaches.
Per the report, the deal doesn’t increase Rhule’s base salary. However, in any year that the Cornhuskers qualify for the College Football Playoffs, Rhule’s base salary in each remaining year of the contract increases by $1 million.
The average value of the deal is $11.7 million. The two new years are worth $12.5 million each, with 90 percent of the contract guaranteed.
Under Rhule, Nebraska went 5-7 in 2023 and 7-6 in 2024. This year, Nebraska has a 6-2 record.
The Panthers added a quarterback to their active roster on Thursday.
The team announced that they have signed Mike White off of their practice squad. Guard Brady Christensen was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move.
White signed to the practice squad last week to give the team another quarterback while Bryce Young was dealing with an ankle injury. Young was back to full practice participation on Wednesday, but Andy Dalton missed practice with a thumb injury so the Panthers may need another backup option in Green Bay this weekend.
Christensen tore his Achilles in last Sunday’s loss to the Bills, so his 2025 season is over. The Panthers signed defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy to their practice squad to round out the day’s moves.
The Packers had a much-anticipated reunion with Aaron Rodgers last Sunday night and they’ll host the Eagles on Monday night in Week 10, which has led some to wonder if this Sunday’s game against the Panthers might fall into the category of a trap game.
Head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about that prospect on Wednesday and he said he’s not concerned about the Packers looking past the task at hand because of where it falls in their overall schedule.
“I’m not worried about it,” LaFleur said, via WTMJ. “Like, we’ve got enough to worry about just within ourselves and a lot of growth in front of us if we want to play our best football. We should only be worried about today and this game. Nothing else outside of that.”
LaFleur won’t have to look too far into the archives to find an example of what can happen if the Packers don’t keep their eye on the ball. Their Week 3 loss to the Browns was one that few people saw coming and it’s a recent reminder that showing up every week is paramount in the NFL.
