Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t able to provide any injury updates on four of the team’s top five draft picks coming out of the preseason opener, but the team is expecting safety Kitan Oladapo to make his NFL debut on Sunday night against the Denver Broncos.
Offensive lineman Jordan Morgan and linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper all missed the preseason opener in Cleveland, and running back MarShawn Lloyd exited the game after two touches with a hamstring injury. LaFleur said “we’ll see” when asked if the injured rookies would return to action this week.
Morgan is battling through a shoulder injury thar was originally expected to keep him out a week or so. Cooper has a hip injury dating back to before Family Night. Hopper injured his ankle last week. Lloyd suffered his second lower-body injury of training camp.
While the rookie class is dinged up, LaFleur said Oladapo — a fifth-round pick who missed the offseason workout program and the start of training camp while recovering from surgery on his toe — is expected to get on the field Sunday in Denver.
“That is the expectation, yes,” LaFleur said.
Injuries for rookies can be devastating, especially early in training camp and into preseason games because the lost reps are so damaging to development.
“It is what it is,” LaFleur said. “It’s always a challenge for rookies because they don’t have a ton of reps under their belt, they don’t have that experience to draw back on.”
Morgan is attempting to win the job as the starter at right guard. Cooper and Hopper both are expected to play snaps at linebacker in the new 4-3. Lloyd is among several players competing to be the backup behind Josh Jacobs. But it’s tough to earn a role from the sideline.
“Every rep is so critical,” LaFleur said.
LaFleur was happy with the injury situation coming out of the preseason opener. Only Lloyd was reported as an in-game injury.
“It was a pretty clean game. Hopefully they all go like that,” LaFleur said.