The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots are both dealing with injury concerns ahead of their matchup in Week 9.
Green Bay could be without cornerback Keisean Nixon, linebacker Zaire Franklin, and running back MarShawn Lloyd. Micah Parsons returned to practice this week, but he's likely several weeks away from returning to action.
The Patriots could be without star wide receiver A.J. Brown, running back TreVeyon Henderson, tight end Hunter Henry, and cornerback Marcus Jones.
Here's the latest on the Packers' injuries, including Parsons' return to practice, good news on Sean Rhyan, and Chris Brooks' status.
Packers injury updates ahead of Week 9 matchup with Patriots
Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons reached another milestone in his recovery by returning to practice this week. He's now at the start of the ramp-up period before he returns to regular-season action. Parsons won't play on Sunday against the Patriots, and he'll likely need several weeks before he's ready to return.
He gave an honest answer about the severity of his injury when speaking to reporters this week. Parsons said he required a "full lateral and medial meniscus repair including the ACL," and was on crutches for seven or eight weeks.
"I had a lot of damage done to my leg, and I think it's a miracle that I'm even standing here today and opening my window this early," Parsons said.
It explains why his return will likely come over 11 months after suffering the injury last December.
The Packers will give him all the time he needs to get up to speed. Parsons has missed a lot of time and needs practice reps to build his conditioning and feel fully comfortable with his knee. Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams on Thanksgiving Eve currently feels like the most likely return date.
Christian Watson
Christian Watson went full Stone Cold Steve Austin last week, leaving Lambeau Field in an ambulance, going to the hospital, then returning to the game and leading the Packers in receiving.
Watson said he broke a rib. He's on the injury report for Week 9 but practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday. As things stand, and given that he was cleared to return last week, it seems likely Watson will be good to go against the Patriots.
Zaire Franklin
Veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin has missed the past two games with a hairline fracture in his leg, and early indications suggest he could sit for another week. There's plenty of time before Sunday, but Franklin still hasn't returned to practice.
The good news is that both Ty'Ron Hopper and Isaiah McDuffie have stepped up in Franklin's absence, helping Jonathan Gannon's defense dominate the Carolina Panthers last week.
Matt LaFleur said Franklin is making progress, but his lack of practice suggests he'll miss another game.
MarShawn Lloyd
MarShawn Lloyd is on the injury report for the first time this year, which itself is a positive after the brutal injury luck he dealt with in his first two seasons. The Packers added Lloyd to the injury report on Thursday with a knee issue.
It's never ideal when a player is added to the injury report during the week. It also doesn't tell us much, as "limited" could mean he started practice like normal but had to leave early due to injury. That doesn't tell us the severity.
Friday's practice and final injury report will give us a better indication. If he's unable to go, Kaleb Johnson will be next up, unless Chris Brooks is ready to return (more on Brooks in a moment).
Keisean Nixon
Keisean Nixon has exceeded expectations this season, but his Week 9 availability is in jeopardy. Nixon was limited in practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury, and he sat out of practice completely on Thursday. That's rarely a good sign.
It would appear he's trending toward a questionable status, at best, for Week 9. We'll see. If Nixon is unable to go, Carrington Valentine will likely get the start.
Sean Rhyan
LaFleur said on Thursday that he doesn't believe Sean Rhyan will go on injured reserve. That suggests the Packers believe he'll return sooner than the four games he'd have to miss on IR. It's a positive update, as Rhyan has been the top performer on an otherwise struggling offensive line this season.
With only two games until the bye week, one has to wonder if the plan is to get him back in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Chris Brooks
Green Bay's run game could get a boost soon. The Packers opened Chris Brooks' 21-day practice window, and he has logged two limited sessions this week.
Brooks suffered an ankle injury in the Packers' Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he's missed the previous four games on injured reserve. It's unclear when he'll return, but it's good news that Brooks is back at practice and almost ready to play.
Not only is he the best blocker in the Packers' running back room, but he's averaging 4.7 yards per carry this season, which is significantly better than Kaleb Johnson (3.7), MarShawn Lloyd (2.6), and Josh Jacobs (2.3).
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