Packers are close to full health after their bye week
The Green Bay Packers are healthy after their bye week.
The Packers‘ bye week is complete, and the focus now turns to Sunday Night Football and a matchup with the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers.
With six weeks to go in the regular season, the Packers are about as healthy as you could hope for this late in the year. The late bye week will have only helped.
According to Mike Spofford of Packers.com, all 53 players on the roster were present during the team’s practice on Monday.
Entire 53-man roster present and going thru stretching in Monday’s practice inside Hutson Center. Post-bye #Packers are a healthy team.
— Mike Spofford (@mikespofford) November 18, 2019
That hasn’t often been the case for the Packers this late in the season. They’re often dealing with a number of injuries to key players. But right now, at least, they’re healthy. That’s important entering arguably the biggest game of the season so far.
Some players had been dealing with injuries, such as Davante Adams, who only recently returned from a toe injury that kept him out for a month. He looked much closer to 100 percent in Green Bay’s victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 10, and the extra week to rest came at a good time.
With an 8-2 record and now well rested after the bye, the Packers are well positioned in the NFC to make a run for the playoffs and a first-round bye. Winning the NFC North is the top priority, but they also have their best chance since 2014 to secure a home playoff game in the divisional round and a week off in the postseason.
Victory on Sunday night would move the Packers into first place in the NFC. Winning out would guarantee them the number one seed as long as the Seattle Seahawks fail to win one of their remaining six games.
The game against the 49ers is possibly the toughest of the season. Being close to full health and with two weeks to prepare will be a huge boost.