The Green Bay Packers have two important players recovering from recent injuries and a bye week coming up in Week 5, making it possible the Packers will be extra cautious when deciding whether receiver Davante Adams and defensive lineman Kenny Clark play against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur shot down that idea on Thursday.
LaFleur said the bye week will have “no bearing” on the availability of Adams and Clark against the Falcons.
“No, it really has no bearing. Knowing that we have a bye is comforting because we are a little banged up right now, but it certainly has no bearing on this game,” LaFleur said.
Adams missed Sunday night’s win over the New Orleans Saints with a hamstring injury, while Clark has missed two straight games with a groin injury suffered in the season opener.
The Packers could sit Adams and Clark for another week and give them two extra weeks to get over early-season injuries, but both players were close to playing last week, and each could be close to 100 percent by Monday night.
The Packers scored 37 points without Adams and improved to 5-0 over the last two seasons without their Pro Bowl receiver. However, the defense could really use Clark, both against the run and as an interior rusher.
Players always want to play, and the Packers – who are 3-0 after the first three weeks – look like a legit contender in the NFC, and every game matters as teams race to be the coveted No. 1 seed.
The Packers will begin practice for the week on Thursday, which should shed more light on the potential availability of Adams and Clark for Monday night. Adams didn’t practice at all last week, while Clark was limited on Thursday and Friday.
The Packers are also attempting to return rookie tight end Josiah Deguara, who has missed two games with an ankle injury.
[vertical-gallery id=51231]