Packers getting healthier entering Week 14 after bye

The Packers appear to be getting healthier after the benefit of their bye week.

The Green Bay Packers‘ bye week came at an important time. After playing a game every week since September, they desperately needed some time off to recharge.

The bye week also gave the Packers an opportunity to get healthier ahead of the stretch run, the final five games of the regular season and then the playoffs.

Based on this week’s injury report, it seems the team is indeed getting healthier.

Only two players have been ruled out: tackle David Bakhtiari and wide receiver Randall Cobb. It was always unlikely Bakhtiari would return this week from a torn ACL, while Cobb will be out a while due to a core injury.

Edge rusher Rashan Gary, running back Aaron Jones, and wide receiver Allen Lazard were all off the injury report this week. All three had been dealing with injuries prior to the bye week.

Cornerback Kevin King is set to return this week. He’s on the injury report due to hip and knee injuries, but was a full participant at practice on both Thursday and Friday and doesn’t carry an injury designation for this week’s game.

They will also get wide receiver Malik Taylor back from injury. He put together back-to-back full practices in the lead-up to this game.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to deal with a toe injury, but he did put in a limited practice on Friday, something he hasn’t done since Week 11.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander is yet to be activated from injured reserve — the team has three weeks to do so — but he did make his return to practice and was out there each day. His return might not come this week, but it appears we’re not far away.

With the race for the No. 1 seed over the next five weeks, and then the playoffs, the Packers need their key players healthy. The bye week has helped.