Packers likely without defensive coordinator vs. Cardinals in Week 8

The Packers will likely be without defensive coordinator Joe Barry in Week 8 as he has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Ahead of the biggest test of the season so far for the Green Bay Packers‘ defense, they are likely to be without defensive coordinator Joe Barry.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, Barry has tested positive for COVID-19 and ‘will surely miss’ the team’s Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Packers have a short turnaround as they play on Thursday night against the undefeated Cardinals.

It’s unclear who will be asked to step in for Barry for this game if he’s unable to be there. Considering the quick turnaround between games, it seems unlikely he’ll be able to travel with the team later in the week.

Arizona’s offense has been on fire this season, powering the team to a perfect 7-0 start. The Cardinals are averaging 402.1 yards of offense per game, good for seventh-most in the NFL. They are fourth in scoring, averaging 32.1 points per game.

Former first-overall pick Kyler Murray is very much in the MVP conversation having thrown for 2,002 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while also rushing for 126 yards and three touchdowns after seven weeks.

Green Bay’s defense will be tested against Murray, especially with a talented receiving corps featuring DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, Zach Ertz, and Rondale Moore.

To the Packers’ credit, their defense ranks seventh in yards allowed and also seventh in points allowed, all despite being without a number of key starters for much of the season.

Still, this will undoubtedly be their biggest challenge of the season to date on the road against the Cardinals, a team aiming to make it eight wins in a row. On a short week, no less. It will be that much more of a challenge if they are without defensive coordinator Joe Barry.