The Green Bay Packers were able to pull off a historic come-from-behind victory in Week 3 over the New Orleans Saints, winning 18-17. What made the comeback even more impressive was that the team did it despite being so short-handed on the offensive side of the ball.
Green Bay was without four starters on offense against the Saints. Wide receiver Christian Watson has not suited up yet this season because of a hamstring injury. Running back Aaron Jones and left tackle David Bakhtiari both missed their second straight game, while left guard Elgton Jenkins missed his first because of a knee injury.
To this point, the Packers haven’t had their projected starting lineup play one snap together in 2023 and it is anyone’s guess when that could occur. Jenkins’ knee injury is expected to be a multi-week absence and Bakhtiari’s knee isn’t holding up despite a change to his practice schedule.
While those situations aren’t overly positive, the Packers did provide an encouraging update on at least one player. Jones, who is dealing with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, would have been listed as a limited participant by the Packers on their injury report today according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
In Garofolo’s opinion, that is a step in the right direction as Jones has a shot to suit up in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions. The Packers are hosting their NFC North division rivals on Thursday Night Football in three days.
Jones’s presence offensively has been missed in the last two games. The Packers have struggled to get anything going on the ground game as AJ Dillon has been woefully disappointing while taking over the lead-back role in his absence.
Dillon has carried the ball 26 times in the last two games, managing only 88 scoreless yards on the ground. He has caught one pass for eight yards, failing to replicate the production and big play ability that Jones provides as a dual-threat out of the backfield.
