The Green Bay Packers defense is going to be missing some key contributors at the start of training camp. They had six players placed on the physically unable to perform list and non-football injury list ahead of the entire team reporting for training camp.
On the non-football injury list are wide receiver Grant DuBose and tight end Camren McDonald. On the PUP list are star pass rusher Rashan Gary, cornerback Eric Stokes, offensive lineman Jake Hanson and wide receiver Jeff Cotton.
All six players will count toward the team’s 90-man roster during training camp. Any player placed on the PUP list to start training camp can be activated at any time. While there is no concrete timetable for when we will see the players on the field, a positive update was provided about Stokes.
According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, Stokes has suffered no setbacks after injuring his meniscus and having a Lisfranc injury in Week 9 of the 2022 season against the Detroit Lions. That has him on track to join his teammates at some point in the near future.
“Stokes’ recovery is right on track, the source said, and the Packers are taking a cautious approach with a talented player. If all goes well, he could make his training camp debut in a couple weeks.”
That is excellent news for the Packers as their secondary, specifically the cornerback spot, is arguably the strongest unit on the team. Having Stokes in the lineup along with Rasul Douglas will allow defensive coordinator Joe Barry to have star cornerback Jaire Alexander shadow the best receiver on the other team.
Stokes took a step back during his second season in the NFL, but he showed flashes of star potential as a rookie stepping into the lineup for Alexander when he was injured. Possessing an elite combination of size and athleticism, the future is bright for the Georgia product as the long-term running mate opposite Alexander.