Two key rookies haven't practiced

GREEN BAY, Wis. – While the Green Bay Packers’ new defensemen have made an immediate impact, their two big draft picks continue to hit injury-related roadblocks on offense.

During Friday’s practice, the last before Sunday’s rivalry showdown at the Chicago Bears, first-round draft pick Jordan Morgan and third-round draft pick MarShawn Lloyd did not practice.

On Friday, reporters are only allowed to view the team’s extensive pre-training program. During those 15 minutes, Morgan rode a stationary bike while Lloyd was not seen at the Don Hutson Center at all.

Morgan showed up on Thursday’s injury report as limited participation with a shoulder injury; he has suffered from shoulder problems all season.

Lloyd suffered an ankle injury in his only regular season game, Week 2 against the Colts, and landed on injured reserve. He was designated to return on Monday, but has not been added to the roster. On Wednesday and Thursday he was only able to participate to a limited extent due to ankle and hamstring problems.

The Packers have an opening on the roster after trading Preston Smith. Coach Matt LaFleur indicated on Thursday that it would go to Lloyd.

“I can’t wait to get him back in the fold,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said Thursday. “Obviously on the bye week you go back and scout yourself, watch all the old film you had from the year, and the one game he played, you just saw his explosive potential, his speed, his receiving ability.

“Very good player. He’s working on some things and trying to get back as soon as possible, but at the same time we have to make sure we’re smart about it and all that. But yeah, it’s working and I’m looking forward to getting it back soon.”

The only other player not to go out for the start of practice was defensive tackle Colby Wooden. He did not train this week due to a shoulder injury.

Center Josh Myers, who sat out the Detroit game because of an injured left wrist, practiced for the third straight day. His ability to deal with the pain and block with some sort of protective bandage or cast will determine whether he returns to the lineup.

“Anytime you can have your starting center there, the guy that handles everything, all the calls, all that stuff, that’s definitely very important,” Stenavich said.

Without Myers against Detroit, Elgton Jenkins moved to center and Morgan got his first NFL start. When healthy, Morgan had averaged about 24 snaps at right guard over the past three weeks.

Starting defensive backs Jaire Alexander and Evan Williams, who were inactive against Detroit, practiced all week.

Getting Alexander back would be crucial given the talent of Chicago’s receiversand the defense has suffered without the rookie Williams.

Quarterback Jordan Love has been around all week and likely won’t be on the final injury report.

Love beat the Bears in both starts last year with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.

“He presented a dual threat to them,” Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington told reporters this week. “Really good arm talent, could make a lot of throws. He grew in terms of his ability to read coverage and take the football where it needed to go.

“Very quick release, but he also had the element of having to answer as a rusher. That’s hard to defend when the second rusher is a quarterback, and all of a sudden that becomes an assignment problem or an assignment circumstance for our defense. He has a well-rounded ability to continue that offensive philosophy, and he will only get better.

For Chicago, the Bears get a lift with the return of left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright. They did not receive an injury designation in Friday’s injury report. Without them last week against the Patriots, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked nine times.

However, left guard Teven Jenkins is out.

Their best defensive player, defenseman Montez Sweat, has practiced the past two days and is questionable.

This story will be updated following the release of the final injury reports on Friday. For now, here are Thursday’s posts.

Packers Thursday injury report

Did not participate: DT Colby Wooden (shoulder).

Limited: CB Jaire Alexander (knee), DT Kenny Clark (toe), RB Josh Jacobs (groin), LG Elgton Jenkins (rest), RB MarShawn Lloyd (ankle/hamstring), OL Jordan Morgan (shoulder), C Josh Myers ( wrist), LT Rasheed Walker (knee), S Evan Williams (hamstring).

Full: DE Kingsley Enagbare (elbow), QB Jordan Love (groin).

Bear’s latest injury report

Injured reserve: S Jaquan Brisker (concussion).

Out: OT Kiran Amegadjie (calf), LG Teven Jenkins (ankle).

Questionable: S Tarvarius Moore (concussion), DE Montez Sweat (ankle).

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