🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
Two weeks into training camp and the Green Bay Packers have been ravaged by injuries.
Seven players — wide receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, guards Elgton Jenkins and John Williams, safety Xavier McKinney, running back Marshawn Lloyd, and defensive end Collin Oliver — did not practice on Thursday, and 17 players have missed time since camp started back on July 23.
But amid the list of injuries piling up, one stands out as being more concerning than the others.
After practicing on Wednesday, McKinney sat out on Thursday, and the Packers are expecting to be without McKinney for the rest of training camp and all three preseason games against the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks while he deals with a calf injury that he aggravated earlier this week.
“Obviously glad that we caught it when we caught it, so just kind of trying to take it slow and then the build-up, obviously,” McKinney said Thursday, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “But I’ll be ready when it’s time to go, for sure.”
More NFL: ESPN Analyst Proposes Blockbuster Micah Parsons-Bills Trade
Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images
More NFL: Chiefs Taking Major Risk With Latest Patrick Mahomes Decision
McKinney, who signed a four-year, $67 million contract with the Packers last offseason, has a solid streak of consecutive games played going (37 counting the postseason), and it doesn’t seem to be in danger as the 25-year-old defensive back believes he’ll be ready to go for Green Bay’s Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
“[The injury] was just something like just lingering a little bit over time, and that’s really all it really was,” McKinney added.
McKinney is the second member of the Packers’ starting secondary to be questionable for Week 1. Cornerback Nate Hobbs went down with a knee injury and underwent surgery to fix the issue.
He’s also optimistic he’ll be ready for the season opener.