Packers: Krys Barnes expected to play with fractured thumb
Krys Barnes has been one of the Green Bay Packers‘ biggest surprises in 2020.
In Saturday’s divisional round victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Barnes left the game early and was questionable to return. When he did reenter the game, he had a big club on his left hand.
According to Olivia Reiner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Barnes fractured his left thumb.
Packers ILB Krys Barnes fractured his left thumb last night and was able to finish the game with a club on his hand. The expectation is that he'll be able to play for the rest of the postseason with the same apparatus. He finished the night with a team-high 10 combined tackles.
— Olivia Reiner (@ReinerOlivia) January 17, 2021
The good news is that he isn’t expected to miss time and will be able to play next week in the NFC Championship Game.
Despite the injury, Barnes led the team with 10 tackles including seven solo tackles. He also made a crucial pass breakup late in the game.
From Jaire Alexander to Elgton Jenkins to Rashan Gary in the draft, and signing the Smith Bros., Billy Turner, and Adrian Amos, GM Brian Gutekunst has hit more than he’s missed in recent years.
Barnes looks to be another great pickup. He signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent but surprisingly started in the season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. And he hasn’t looked back. Barnes finished second on the team in tackles this season with 80, while also making a sack, five tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
You could even make a case Barnes has outplayed Patrick Queen, the Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker the Packers passed up in the first round of the draft last year.
But that’s a different conversation for another day.
What we do know is that Barnes has made an impact in the middle of the Packers’ defense this season. He’s been their best inside linebacker.
The good news is that despite suffering a thumb injury against the Rams, Barnes shouldn’t miss time. Wearing a club isn’t ideal and will make tacking harder, but Barnes will still be an important player in Mike Pettine’s defense for the rest of the playoffs.