What's next for Packers after injury bug infiltrates their wide receiver room?
One scene from Tuesday's practice perfectly captured the solemn state of Green Bay's wide receiver room right now.
Romeo Doubs was keeled over on the field after hitting the ground following a light collision with safety Evan Williams on an incomplete deep ball during 11-on-11s. He stayed down for a while as trainers attended to him. Fellow wide receivers Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks came to check on Doubs, but they didn't have to step out of drills because they're all sidelined with injuries, too.
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Doubs' apparent lower back injury was the latest in a room currently ravaged by the injury bug. Doubs declined to speak with reporters in the locker room after practice and gave an affirmative answer when asked briefly if he was alright. It's unclear how much time he'll miss, if any, after leaving Tuesday's practice early and not returning.
Watson, however, continues to rehab a torn ACL suffered in Week 18 (more on his recovery later). Reed's left foot remains in a walking boot, as he's been sidelined since last Thursday without a clear timetable for return, at least publicly (head coach Matt LaFleur said he's hopeful Reed plays Week 1). Wicks has been dealing with a calf injury, and it's unclear when he'll return. If Doubs doesn't participate in joint practice at the Colts on Thursday, the Packers' top four receivers will be rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden, third-year receiver Malik Heath, rookie third-rounder Savion Williams and Julian Hicks, a 2024 undrafted wideout yet to play in a game.
Oh, and not to mention quarterback Jordan Love underwent left thumb surgery for a torn ligament on Tuesday, first-team All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney is nursing a calf injury that might keep him out the rest of the preseason (general manager Brian Gutekunst 'absolutely' expects McKinney to play Week 1) and starting cornerback Nate Hobbs is recovering from meniscus surgery and still limping in the locker room.
LaFleur was asked Tuesday if he considered cancelling joint practice with the Colts because of all the Packers' injuries. He said 'no' while nodding his head as if to simultaneously say 'yes,' and was asked if he feels good about his team's overall health in camp.
'No, I don't,' LaFleur said. 'Right now, I don't. We're missing a lot of key players that are integral to our success as a football team. It is what it is. It's an opportunity for some other guys, but we definitely had some injuries strike up at some positions where it's made us pretty thin.'
Perhaps the most encouraging health update on Tuesday came from Brian Gutekunst about Watson. Watson's father said this offseason that his son would be back around Week 12. Gutekunst said at this year's NFL Scouting Combine that Watson was expected back around the midway point of the season. Perhaps the most optimistic update yet on Watson's return timetable came on Tuesday.
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'It's tough because when you see him run — I'm sure you guys have seen him run, too — like you want to throw him out there, right?' Gutekunst said. 'But there's kind of a timeline with these ACLs, and we're certainly — he's ahead of the curve. There's no doubt about it, but at the same time, he's got a long career in front of him, so we want to make sure we take the proper steps and we don't skip any steps along the way. I think more than likely, he'll start the year on the PUP. After that fourth game, I'm sure he's going to be chomping at the bit and it's going to take a lot of us to hold him back.'
With Watson and others sidelined for at least joint practice and Saturday's exhibition game in Indianapolis, the likes of tight end Luke Musgrave and wide receiver Isaiah Neyor will have added opportunities in the passing game. Both took advantage of them on Tuesday.
On the first play of the starters' two-minute drill, quarterback Malik Willis hit Musgrave for a 30-yard touchdown on a through route. The third-year tight end turned on the jets and got behind the defense. One coach remarked on how fast Musgrave looked as he returned to the sideline. After battling a lacerated kidney and an ankle injury that required surgery in his first two seasons, respectively, Musgrave's vertical presence in the passing game to complement tight end Tucker Kraft would be a welcome addition.
In the next two-minute period, quarterback Taylor Elgersma floated a ball down the left sideline, and Neyor, an undrafted rookie whom the Packers signed less than a week ago, made a nifty over-the-shoulder falling catch for a touchdown.
'It's something that I practice a lot,' Neyor said of that specific catch. 'And it's one of the toughest catches to make in football, so I try to practice it as much as I can, keeping my eye on the ball and tracking it all the way to my hands. It was a great ball by the quarterback, Taylor, and he threw it up and I just went and made the play.'
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Whether it's a tight end who should see significant time in the regular season or a wide receiver fighting for a practice squad spot, chances to make plays might be abundant with all the injuries to Packers pass catchers. The next two weeks, which feature two joint practices and two preseason games, will provide ample opportunity for starters looking to fine-tune before the regular season or for fringe roster players looking to keep their jobs.
'Hopefully, those guys are healing. Hopefully, it's nothing too major with them,' Neyor said. 'But I'mma do whatever it takes. Whatever's asked of me, I'm gonna go out there and do whatever the team needs me to do.'
Packers HC Matt LaFleur on Jordan Love's thumb injury👇
'From what I've been understanding, it's a pretty, relatively quick recovery. So hopefully we'll be able to get him back out in some capacity next week.' pic.twitter.com/NtOJlYwFhm
— 97.3 The Game (@TheGameMKE) August 12, 2025
It wasn't all doom and gloom for the Packers on Tuesday, though, as running backs MarShawn Lloyd (groin) and Emanuel Wilson (knee) and left tackle Rasheed Walker (groin) all returned to 11-on-11 work.
One of Tuesday's most notable plays came when Lloyd made one cut to avoid a potential tackler in the middle of the field that drew oohs and ahhs from his teammates. Wicks appeared to be so impressed with Lloyd's agility that he put his hand on his chin and kept his mouth open like he saw a ghost. It's that dynamic playmaking ability that still has the Packers eager about Lloyd's potential despite the injury-riddled start to the 2024 third-round pick's career.
'That's what I love to do. I love to be able to make plays,' Lloyd said. 'Now, it's just being able to run it back and be the guy that they drafted.'
While Walker returned to team drills, 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan still took the first reps as the starting left tackle. As for Wilson, it'll be fascinating to see if he or Chris Brooks will be the odd running back out, assuming the Packers keep Josh Jacobs, Lloyd and one other on the initial 53-man roster.
'With Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks, we've got two established players who have proven their abilities in this league,' Gutekunst said. 'I like the competition there. I like their diverse skill set between all four of them, and so I'm very comfortable with that group.'
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