The Green Bay Packers are going to give cornerback Kevin King up to game time on Sunday to get ready to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Packers listed King as questionable with a quad injury, but coach Matt LaFleur confirmed he’d give his starting cornerback the rest of the week before making a decision on his status for Sunday.
“I think that will be more of a game-time decision. We’ll go back and watch the tape, talk to Kevin, see how he’s feeling tomorrow, and just give him up to game time to see if he can go or not,” LaFleur said Friday. “It’s ultimately going to be a decision that we make as an organization though, because we don’t want to put him at risk.”
King missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday but returned Friday in a limited fashion.
The Packers fly to Tampa on Saturday before playing the Buccaneers at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon. King will likely get a chance to work out on the field at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday morning before the Packers make a final decision on whether he’ll play or not against the Bucs.
Inactives are due 90 minutes before kickoff.
King has started all four games for the Packers opposite Jaire Alexander at cornerback this season. He’s allowed eight catches and a touchdown on 13 targets, per Pro Football Focus.
King went out in the second half of the Packers’ win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4. LaFleur said the season is a marathon, and the Packers were cautious with both Davante Adams and Kenny Clark before the bye.
Not having King would be a tough blow for the Packers defense, especially with the Buccaneers having Mike Evans and Chris Godwin available at wide receiver for Sunday.
“He is a great corner, man. He’s done a lot of great things,” LaFleur said. “His length, when he’s at the line of scrimmage and we’re asking him to play man coverage, it’s tough for receivers to get off of him. The other thing he does such a great job, and you don’t see this with every corner, but both he and Jaire have done an unbelievable job being physical in our run game, especially when we’re playing out two-safety defenses. Made some big-time plays.”
Over four games, King has 16 tackles but no pass breakups or interceptions. He had 15 pass breakups and five interceptions last season.
“Kevin is an important part of our defense, our football team. I think he’s a great leader in that room too,” LaFleur said.
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