Packers coach hopeful for trio of injured players returning vs. Bears

Packers coach Matt LaFleur is hopeful that Jaire Alexander, Josh Myers and Evan Williams will all return to play on Sunday against the Bears.

The Green Bay Packers could return three major pieces to the lineup on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Coach Matt LaFleur told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic that he’s “optimistic” that cornerback Jaire Alexander, center Josh Myers and safety Evan Williams will all return from injuries coming out of the team’s Week 10 bye.

Alexander, Myers and Williams missed the Packers’ Week 9 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Alexander injured his knee against the Jacksonville Jaguars and didn’t practice at all during Week 9. Myers couldn’t play through a lingering or worsening wrist injury, and Williams sat out while nursing a hamstring injury suffered in pre-game warmups in Jacksonville.

The Packers missed all three starters against the Lions. Quarterback Jared Goff completed 18 of 22 passes, including all seven attempts targeting Amon-Ra St. Brown, while backup center Elgton Jenkins delivered several poor snaps in wet, rainy conditions at Lambeau Field.

With a week off during the bye, all three could be on track to return as the Packers begin preparing for a trip to Chicago.

The Packers need a win coming out of the bye, not only to erase the taste of disappointing loss to the Lions but also to secure a first divisional win of the season. LaFleur’s team is 0-2 — with two home losses — to start play inside the NFC North in 2024. The Packers will play the Bears twice and go on the road to play the Lions and Vikings over the season’s final eight games.

The Packers won’t practice or put out an injury report to start Week 11 until Wednesday.

Elsewhere on the injury front, the Packers are expected to designate running back MarShawn Lloyd for return from injured reserve. He’s been out since injuring his ankle in Week 2.