Packers HC Matt LaFleur underwent surgery for torn pectoral muscle

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is dealing with an injury as the team is going through offseason workouts. While speaking to reporters on Friday, LaFleur revealed that he underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.

“Got in a little fight with the bench press. I lost,” LaFleur said, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. LaFleur, 44, was wearing a sling during the draft. And during the first day of the Packers’ rookie minicamp on Friday, LaFleur didn’t use his left arm, according to Pro Football Talk.

This is the second major surgery LaFleur since becoming the Packers’ head coach in 2019. In that first year, LaFleur tore his Achilles while playing basketball.

Matt LaFleur loves the Packers’ 2024 draft class

A torn pectoral muscle is tough, but LaFleur and the Packers have to be happy with their draft class. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN graded every team’s draft class, and Green Bay earned a “B.” Offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Javon Bullard anchor a class that includes 11 players.

“Jordan Morgan was a stalwart on the blind side for Arizona who rarely missed an assignment,” Kiper wrote. “He blew up edge defenders in the run game and made them look silly in pass sets. He’ll be a plug-and-play starter. On Day 2, I loved the additions of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safety Javon Bullard, both of whom I ranked No. 1 at their positions. Cooper can be a three-down defender because of his coverage tools, while Bullard is a do-it-all defensive back who will assist a unit that intercepted just seven passes last season, which ranked 31st in the league.”

Once the draft ended, LaFleur spoke to reporters about the 2024 class. “I feel like we got better over these last three days,” he said. “A lot of work went into this, and I thought our scouring department led by [Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst did a hell of a job. We’re just excited to get these guys in here.”

The Packers were known for being a young team last year, and with the addition of 11 rookies, youth will be a theme for the franchise in 2024. LaFleur is looking forward to how these players compete once camp begins.

“Well, that’s always the goal is to bring in as much talent as possible,” he said. “And now it’s our job to maximize the talent and try to push these guys to new limits. But we certainly added in some areas that we really needed it.”