The Green Bay Packers will go into Sunday’s NFC Divisional Round showdown against the Seattle Seahawks with one big question mark but a relatively healthy team.
Standout defensive tackle Kenny Clark is officially listed as questionable with a back injury. He missed Wednesday’s practice and was a limited participant both Thursday and Friday.
The good news for the Packers: Roughly 80 percent of players listed by the team as questionable have gone on to play in the game this season.
The bad news: Clark is a key part of Mike Pettine’s defense and will clearly be limited if he can play Sunday.
The Packers rely on Clark, one of the game’s most disruptive interior linemen, to clog running lanes and collapse the pocket from the inside. Not having him available would limit Pettine’s ability to stop the run on early downs and pressure Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
Only All-Pro Aaron Donald had more pressures among the NFL’s interior defensive linemen this season.
If Clark couldn’t go, the Packers would need more from backup Montravius Adams, rookie Kingsley Keke and run-stuffer Tyler Lancaster, who is also questionable (illness).
The Packers have been hopeful all week that Clark would be able to fight through the back issue and play against the Seahawks.
Fullback Danny Vitale and running back Dexter Williams are also questionable due to an illness that has affected several Packers players the last two weeks.
In Week 17, the Packers used rookie tight end Jace Sternberger as an H-back option in place of Vitale, who has pass-catching value for the Packers offense. Williams is a third- or fourth-string running back and was likely to be inactive regardless of health on Sunday.