Report: Allen Lazard expected to play in week 2 vs Bears

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard, who listed as questionable for Week 2’s Sunday Night Football’s matchup against the Chicago Bears due to a sprained ankle, is now expected to play, per Adam Schefter on Twitter.

Lazard sprained his ankle just days before the Packers’ season-opening loss to Minnesota, and was not cleared in time to suit up. He’s expected to be quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ most reliable receiver when he returns following the offseason loss of star wideout Davante Adams.

While out nursing his ankle last week, Rodgers didn’t have a clear WR1 in his receiving corps. Running back AJ Dillon would become the team’s leading receiver through one game with five receptions for 46 yards, while young wideouts Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson proved their worth, combining for six receptions for 73 yards as Rodgers’ go-to true wide receivers for the week.

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With Lazard back in the lineup, his 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame allows Rodgers leeway to be more free with deep throws – something that was nonexistent for the Packers in game one. In fact, Rodgers’ backup, Jordan Love‘s longest pass (25 yards) went for more yards than Rodgers’ (23) did.

That length – which is identically coupled by Watson’s similar height, weight and length on the opposite side of the offense – will allow the Packers to spread the field and gives them a more vertical threat rather than the east-to-west, short-yardage style of football the Vikings’ defense forced the Packers into last week.

Elsewhere on the injury report for the Packers, three of Green Bay’s projected starting five offensive linemen — David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins and Jon Runyan Jr. — are all listed as questionable as well. Their presence are a necessity for Rodgers, who was sacked four times during Week 1.

Jake Hanson (shoulder), Marcedes Lewis (vet rest), Keisean Nixon (shoulder) and Quay Walker (shoulder) were all full participants on Friday and will be on the sideline for Sunday’s rivalry matchup, too.