Eric Stokes has continued to miss game action after returning to practice, but that could change tomorrow. The Packers announced on Saturday that the former first-round corner has been activated from injured reserve. 
Stokes returned to practice late last month, opening his 21-day activation window. He would have reverted to season-ending IR in the event he was not brought back into the fold within that timeframe. Instead, Green Bay will now have a former starter available for just the second time this season in time for Week 15.
The Georgia alum saw his first-team role disappear in 2023 with Rasul Douglas being used on the perimeter. The latter was dealt to the Bills at the trade deadline, however, clearing a path for Stokes to reclaim a starting spot. He logged only four special teams snaps in his lone action of the season so far (Week 7), so it will be worth watching how large of a workload he is given upon his return to action.
Fellow corner Jaire Alexander has been out for more than one month, so Stokes’ return will be a welcomed sight. Injuries have been a concern for Stokes during his relatively brief Green Bay tenure, and a healthy finish to the campaign would be signficant. The 24-year-old required foot and knee surgeries this offseason, and his most recent absence was caused by a hamstring injury. Stokes struggled last season after an encouraging rookie campaign, so his ability to rebound down the stretch in 2023 will be a key storyline to watch.
The Packers need to make a decision on Stokes’ fifth-year option this spring. Picking up the 2025 option would lock him into a salary of $11.28MM for that season, a costly figure given his play to date and the CB investment (four years, $84MM) already made in Alexander last offseason. For the time being, however, Green Bay will look to use Stokes to boost a defense which already ranks top-10 against the pass.
Sitting at 6-7 on the year, the team is in play for an NFC wild-card spot. Green Bay’s push for a postseason berth at the start of the Jordan Love era will depend in large part on the play of the first-year starting quarterback, of course, but Stokes could have a notable role to play as well. The Packers have six IR activations remaining.
Definitely should commit almost $12 million to a cb who can’t stay healthy. Not like they have 1 already that got a fat payday and only suits up when there’s a blue moon on gameday..
One of Guety’s reaches in round one that has come back to bite this team. Guety is absolutely horrible at drafting and a terrible GM overall. They need to move on from that clown ASAP.
Since the draft of Davante Adams, who are the impact players the Packers and Gutknuts have drafted? Alexander, who can’t stay healthy? Gary, who’s somewhat inconsistent? Van Ness shouldn’t have been a 1st rd pick and they wasted a sixth-round pick on Carlson. Carlson isn’t an upgrade over Crosby other than he costs less $$. All the recent high draft picks on defense along with DC Barry have allowed DeVito and Mayfield to look like all-pro quarterbacks. Wasn’t defense supposed to be this year’s team strength?
LaFleur is routinely outcoached and fails to make adjustments each year. Same with Barry. Not expecting a playoff team, simply a team making strides toward improvement and consistency.
Lotta good it did
Unless they deactivated Joe Barry it doesn’t matter.