Packers: Getting healthy important during the first-round bye

The first-round bye gave the Packers’ injured players an extra week to rest with a huge game against the Seahawks up next.

The Green Bay Packers‘ first-round bye is over, and they will now prepare to take on the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs next Sunday in a rematch of the 2015 NFC Championship Game.

Along with an opportunity to self-scout and not having to win a playoff game in the wild-card round, the Packers also had a chance to get healthy during their week off. And that is so important in the playoffs.

The Packers had been fortunate with injuries for much of the season, but they began to lose some key players in the final couple of games of the regular season.

Running back Jamaal Williams missed the season finale against the Detroit Lions due to a shoulder injury. In that game, starting center Corey Linsley exited due to a back injury and right tackle Bryan Bulaga suffered a concussion. Fullback Danny Vitale also didn’t play against the Lions.

Had Green Bay played in the wild-card round, who knows how many of the injured players would’ve been able to play. And if they were active, how close to 100 percent would’ve they been?

The extra week off could make a huge difference.

The Packers practiced this week, and according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Williams practiced on Thursday, which is good news and perhaps a sign he’ll be able to return for the divisional round later this week.

The team won’t release the first injury report of the week until Wednesday, which is when we’ll start to get a better idea of who will be available. But the week off will only have helped the Packers get closer to 100 percent, which could be so important now just two victories away from the Super Bowl.