Matt LaFleur opens up on Packers' injury issues in 2022

As the struggling Green Bay Packers prepare to host the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Matt LaFleur opened up about the issues the team has faced all season with injuries. On Wednesday, the Packers placed leading pass rusher Rashan Gary on injured reserve.

The Wednesday practice report also featured a slew of non-participants, including David Bakhtiari (knee), Romeo Doubs (ankle), Elgton Jenkins (knee), QB Aaron Rodgers (right thumb), CB Eric Stokes (ankle/knee), and WR Sammy Watkins (knee).

“You always try to plan for the worst and hope for the best, in regards to injuries,” LaFleur said. “If I say yes, I feel like I’m making an excuse. it’s football. You have to adapt, you have to adjust. Do I think it can be challenging? Absolutely. But nobody’s feeling sorry for us, across the league, we’re not feeling sorry for ourselves either.

“You have truly to have that next-man-up mentality. When you have depth, it’s definitely comforting, especially at certain positions, and when you don’t, it presents challenges. But every team is facing these issues.”

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Things don’t get any easier for the reeling Packers’ franchise. Next up, they face one of the best teams in the National Football League, the 6-2 Dallas Cowboys. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field.

Packers place Rashan Gary on IR

The Green Bay Packers placed linebacker Rashan Gary on injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon. It’s not surprising, considering Gary tore his ACL in the team’s loss on Sunday to their division rival, the Detroit Lions. Recent estimates put his timeline for recovery from the injury at anywhere from 9-11 months.

It’s bad news for the Packers’ franchise since Gary is one of their best pass rushers. He led the team in pressures (38), sacks (6), quarterback hits (12), and tackles for loss (7).

Gary has only missed two games in his NFL career thus far.

The franchise also announced the addition of wide receiver Jeff Cotton. The Packers decided to place Cotton on their practice squad on Wednesday.

He was an undrafted free agent in the 2020 NFL Draft and was originally signed by the Los Angeles Chargers. He didn’t make his debut until he played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They let him play on Jan. 2, 2022 against the New England Patriots, in Week 17 of the regular season.

Cotton played his college football with the Idaho Vandals where he had his best season as a redshirt junior in 2018. He hauled in 49 passes for 656 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Before joining the Packers, Cotton had also spent time with the Chargers, Jaguars, and Cardinals.

On3’s Wade Perry contributed to this report.