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Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes tore the meniscus in his knee and suffered a Lisfranc injury in his foot during Green Bay’s Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field last season, according to Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com.
Stokes said he needed surgery for both injuries in November, couldn’t walk on his own until January, just recently started running again and has no certain timetable on a return to the field.
“We don’t know yet. That’s the real big question,” Stokes said Tuesday.
The Packers’ 2021 first-round pick wasn’t participating during Tuesday’s practice at OTAs but did work with the rehab group to the side. He doesn’t plan to practice at all during the OTA period of the offseason workout program.
Stokes started 23 of his first 25 games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He enjoyed a rookie breakout season but struggled through the first nine games of last season, allowing 84 percent completions and a 125.9 passer rating on throws into his coverage, per PFF. Now, Stokes will need to get healthy and attempt to bounce back during a pivotal third season.
Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon (slot) are the expected starters at cornerback to open the 2023 season. It’s unclear what the depth chart will look like once Stokes is healthy enough to return to the playing field.