Man, if you thought the Green Bay Packers were already banged up, Thursday’s injury report piled on even more. Rookie offensive lineman Jager Burton is now battling a groin issue and got added to an already stacked list of sidelined guys. This latest hit to their offensive line room could be a massive headache for the team heading into a crucial Week 4 matchup.
The O-Line is a Minefield Right Now
This is where the real drama is. The Packers were already sweating over Aaron Banks, who’s got knee and toe problems, and Jacob Monk with a quad injury. Now Burton, an interior guy who’s already made starts for the team in 2026, is limited. Think about that: they could be without *three* interior offensive linemen who’ve actually taken snaps as starters this season. It’s no wonder Travis Glover was out there getting looks at right guard on Thursday, trying to figure out how to piece things together. Yeah, sure, they’ve got 15 offensive linemen total between the active roster and practice squad, so they’re not totally short on bodies. But losing guys who’ve started? That changes everything on the field, big time. You need that continuity and experience, especially in the trenches.
Beyond the Trenches: Shifting Fortunes on the Injury Report
It’s not just the big fellas up front, either. Banks and Monk, obviously, were non-participants on Thursday. But so were defensive linemen Warren Brinson, who’s dealing with calf and groin issues, and Anthony Campbell with an ankle problem. This D-line is already “oversigned” with bodies, same as the O-line, but losing key contributors hurts. The good news? Karl Brooks, another defensive lineman, looks to be trending in the right direction. He went from a non-participant Wednesday to limited on Thursday. That’s a tiny ray of sunshine. But then you look at Burton, who was a full participant Wednesday and is now limited. And Brinson, who was limited Wednesday, didn’t participate at all Thursday. Those are some tough trends in the wrong direction. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, with a shoulder and concussion, and edge defender Lukas Van Ness, who has a shoulder issue, were also limited participants. And don’t forget the Buccaneers are dealing with their own stuff for this game: rookie first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. (groin and shoulder), tight end Ko Kieft (elbow), and their starting quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) all sat out Thursday practice.
So, what’s it all mean for Sunday’s Week 4 clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? If Banks, Brinson, Campbell, and Monk all can’t go, that’s four of their five mandatory game day scratches already locked in. Easy decisions there, I guess? The last scratch will probably be another offensive lineman, because you just don’t typically carry more than eight O-linemen on a 48-man game day roster, and they’ve got 11 on the active roster right now. This is a crucial game for Green Bay, and they’ll need every healthy body to step up big if they want to get past the Bucs. Gotta see who actually suits up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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