The Packers have a long list of players listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against the Bears.
Wide receiver Christian Watson (chest, shoulder) is one of the 10 players who drew that tag. Watson had his second straight day of limited practice on Thursday.
Running back Josh Jacobs (knee, ankle) and right tackle Zach Tom (back, knee) did not practice, but they are also in the group. Safety Evan Williams (knee), wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), running back Chris Brooks (chest), offensive lineman Darian Kinnard (neck), and defensive linemen Kingsley Enagbare (illness), Brenton Cox Jr. (groin) and Collin Oliver (hamstring) are the other questionable Packers this week.
Cox and Oliver will need to be activated in order to play in Chicago.
Tight end Josh Whyle (concussion), running back MarShawn Lloyd (calf, hamstring), and guard John Williams (back) are the Packers that have been ruled out this week.
Once again, the Bears will be without their top receiver.
Chicago has listed receiver Rome Odunze out for Saturday’s game against the Packers as he continues to deal with a foot injury.
Odunze was not able to practice this week.
In his second season, Odunze has 44 receptions for 661 yards with six touchdowns so far in 2025.
Fellow receiver Luther Burden (ankle) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (hamstring) have also been ruled out for the contest.
Running back D’Andre Swift (groin), linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (groin), defensive lineman Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (personal), and tight end Cole Kmet (ankle/knee) have all been listed as questionable. However, according to multiple reporters, Kmet said on Thursday that he plans to play this weekend.
Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent (illness), defensive lineman Andrew Billings (illness), and running back Travis Homer (ankle) are all off the injury report and are set to play.
The Packers will take as much time as they can before the start of Saturday’s game against the Bears before determining the status of running back Josh Jacobs and right tackle Zach Tom.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said at a Thursday press conference that neither Jacobs nor Tom will take part in the team’s final practice before their NFC North clash in Chicago. The two players have been out of practice all week, but LaFleur said that they have not been ruled out and the team will take things into Saturday until deciding if they’ll play.
Jacobs has been dealing with a knee injury for several weeks and he’s also listed with an ankle issue. Tom has back and knee injuries.
The full Packers injury report with official injury designations will be released later on Thursday.
Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is confident that Micah Parsons is going to make a full recovery from the torn ACL that he suffered last weekend.
Hafley said on Wednesday that he believes Parsons “comes back even better and probably breaks the sack record next year.” That would make for quite a story, but it wouldn’t do anything to help the Packers’ chances of making a playoff run despite Parsons’ absence and Hafley’s job is to make sure that the defense doesn’t fall apart without its star defensive end.
Hafley shared the message he’s sending as the team prepares to face the Bears on Saturday.
“I told them you can’t let circumstances dictate behavior,” Hafley said, via Matt Schneidman of TheAthletic.com. “A week ago, we’re in here after we beat the Bears, and we’re all walking in here all upbeat and ready to roll. I said, ‘Shame on you if you walk in here any different today.’ That’s not who we are. That’s our job as leaders and coaches, to make sure that we don’t do that. We’ve got really good players. We’ve played good defense, and we’re going to continue to play good defense. Our guys understand that, and I think it’s important for everyone to understand that these guys have a lot of pride and they’re going to get even closer because of this. And they’re going to play well.”
Parsons was not a one-man band on defense in Green Bay, but his presence did draw a lot of attention from opposing offenses and create opportunities for others while he was being double- or triple-teamed. That won’t be part of the landscape on Saturday in Chicago or at any other point this season, which leaves Hafley and the Packers with a lot to figure out on the fly.
Allen Lazard is free to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. If the Steelers want him. And if he wants the Steelers.
The former Packers and Jets receiver cleared waivers on Wednesday, making him a free agent.
Because Lazard didn’t waive his right to termination pay in order to secure his release, Lazard will be entitled to recover the remaining $291,667 of his $1.75 million base salary from the Jets. He’ll also be able to keep whatever he makes elsewhere, without offset.
He spent five seasons in Green Bay with Rodgers. Lazard then signed with the Jets in 2023, the same offseason during which Rodgers was traded there.
Lazard renegotiated his contract to stay with the Jets, in lieu of being released and potentially joining Rodgers in Pittsburgh. Now, Lazard is free and clear to join the Steelers or any other team, at any time.
