The Green Bay Packers are hoping to get two defensive starters back fit from injuries when Matt LaFleur’s team travels to Philadelphia to face the Eagles on Sunday in the NFC Wild Card round.
Linebacker Quay Walker and backup Evan Williams, who missed the final three games of the regular season with lower-body injuries, are expected to return this week, but LaFleur cautioned that both players still need to return to the practice field and recover. throughout the week before being cleared to play on Sunday.
Walker injured his ankle on Dec. 15 in Seattle and has not played or practiced since. Williams suffered a thigh injury during training on Saturday, December 21, and has not played or practiced since.
On Wednesday, the Packers practice for the first time this week. The team will also release its first injury report on Wednesday.
The Packers may need Walker and Williams back on the field at nearly 100 percent to defend the Eagles’ vigorous offense led by quarterback Saquon Barkley, who has rushed for over 2,000 yards this season.
In the first game against the Eagles, Walker played just a handful of snaps alongside vigorous rookie Edgerrin Cooper, who has emerged as the top quarterback heading into the 2024 season. Williams has been lively, but he hasn’t played a single snap on defense at the start of the season. Walker played his best pre-ankle football in Seattle, and Williams had a stellar rookie season as a starter alongside Xavier McKinney at the safety position.
