GREEN BAY – He wouldn’t say it directly, but Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said it’s reasonable to think Micah Parsons could start practicing the week of the Nov. 8 game against New England.
When asked in his news conference Tuesday evening, Oct. 27, if Parsons could start practicing next week, LaFleur said, “I sure hope so.”
Reminded that this was a different answer than he'd given when asked about Parsons in previous weeks, he said his three-week practice window could open next week.
“I’m saying there’s a chance,” LaFleur said.
He added: “I mean, at the end of the day, it’s the medical [evaluation]. So, yeah, I’m itching at it, though, for sure.”
Parsons would start practicing on Monday, Nov. 2, if LaFleur conducts a practice or walk-through that day, four days after the Packers play a Thursday night game against the Carolina Panthers. Otherwise, the first practice of the week would be on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Either way, the practice would come just over 10 months after Parsons had the ACL in his left knee repaired on Dec. 29.
LaFleur and the medical staff would then have to decide whether Parsons was ready to play against the Patriots. The Packers play Minnesota at home the following week and then have a bye, so Parsons would have more time to recover if he debuted against the Vikings.
Parsons’ long-awaited return won’t come in time to help the Packers overcome a slew of injuries that will affect their offensive line against the Panthers.
LaFleur said center Sean Rhyan, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in the 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions and was seen in the locker room using a knee scooter to keep weight off his left leg, could head to the injured reserve list. He would miss a minimum of four games if placed there.
Backup center Jacob Monk was placed on injured reserve after injuring his thigh in the Lions game.
John Williams, who had never played center in college or the NFL, filled in and did an admirable job, according to LaFleur.
LaFleur said he has not decided whether Williams will start against the Patriots.
In addition to Rhyan and Monk getting hurt against the Lions, right guard Travis Glover reported knee soreness the day after the game and was listed as a non-participant on the Packers’ estimated injury reports Monday and Tuesday. The Packers are holding only walk-throughs because of the short turnaround, but if they had practiced in full, Glover would not have taken part.
If Glover can’t play, LaFleur said, he wouldn’t hesitate to use veteran Kevin Zeitler, who signed Sept. 30, but he said the coaches still were working through their options.
Asked about the process to get the 36-year-old Zeitler up to speed after missing offseason workouts and training camp, LaFleur said, “We knew it was going to be fluid. Anytime you get a guy in the building that’s new to it, you’ve just got to let it happen naturally.
“And when he’s ready to roll, he’ll be out there.”
The Packers also must decide whether to return left guard Aaron Banks to the starting lineup. Banks was active for the first time since Week 2 against the Lions but did not play on offense. Veteran Laken Tomlinson has played solidly since taking over the position.
Both Banks and Tomlinson have played left guard most of their careers, so the Packers might not want to move one of them to right guard. If they did, Banks would probably move because Tomlinson has established himself on the left side.
LaFleur said that inside linebacker Zaire Franklin, who suffered a shin injury in practice before the Detroit game, would not play against the Panthers. Isaiah McDuffie would man Franklin’s position and wear the radio in his helmet to receive play calls from defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
Receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder/foot) was listed as a non-participant for a second straight day, and LaFleur said when a player isn’t practicing, he has concerns about him playing. However, Golden finished the Lions game, so he may just need the time off.
If he can’t play, Savion Williams would likely move into the starting role opposite Christian Watson with Bo Melton and Michael Sturdivant Jr. backing them up. The Packers also have Coleman Owen on the roster, although he is mostly a special-teams player.
The Packers have two receivers on the practice squad – Isaiah Neyor and Quincy Skinner Jr. – who they could activate to the game-day roster.
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers coach Matt LaFleur hopeful Micah Parsons will start practicing next week