Davante Adams Could Play In Week 5
Even after absorbing a violent hit from Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan last week, Packers wide receiver Davante Adams may be in line to play in Week 5, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Adams was taken to the hospital following the hit — which resulted in a two-game suspension for Trevathan — and thankfully escaped with only a concussion. If available, the 24-year-old Adams would be a boon to Green Bay’s offense against the Cowboys on Sunday, as he’s recorded 16 receptions, 219 yards, and two scores thus far in 2017.
- Offensive tackles Andrew Wylie, Stephen Evans, and Storm Norton, plus running back Joel Bouagnon, worked out for the Packers on Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Wylie went undrafted out of Eastern Michigan earlier this year, but signed with the Colts shortly thereafter. He took a spot on Indy’s practice squad until being waived in September. Bouagnon, too, is a rookie UDFA (Northern Illinois) who spent eight weeks with the Bears this summer.
Packers Not Planning To Add Running Back
Packers running back Ty Montgomery‘s injury isn’t as serious as originally believed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Original reports indicated Montgomery suffered broken ribs in Thursday night’s game, and it’s unclear if that diagnosis was incorrect, or if Montgomery will simply be able to manage the injury.
[RELATED: Latest On Packers CB Damarious Randall]
Now considered day-to-day, Montgomery could be available when Green Bay faces Dallas in Week 5 following a ten-day layoff. That’s the second bit of positive news the Packers have received today, as backup running back Jamaal Williams also avoided a major injury, escaping Green Bay’s victory over the Bears with only a knee sprain.
The Packers don’t intend to add a running back to their roster, per Schefter, an indication that the club believes at least one of Montgomery or Williams will be ready to go come next Sunday. If not, Green Bay will instead rely on rookies Aaron Jones and Devante Mays, with fullback Aaron Ripkowski also in the mix.
Montgomery, 24, has been a vital cog in the Packers’ offense in his first season as a full-time running back. Through three-plus games, Montgomery has managed 152 yards and two scores on the ground while adding 18 receptions, 129 yards, and another touchdown in the passing game.
Latest On Packers’ Damarious Randall
An argument between Damarious Randall and a Packers coach led to the cornerback heading to the locker room during the second half of Green Bay’s win over Chicago on Thursday night, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Mike McCarthy (per ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky) called it a “coach’s decision” to send Randall to the locker room during the Packers’ 35-14 win. McCarthy benched Randall to start the second half.
The dispute came with a Packers assistant and was about coverage responsibilities, Rapoport reports (video link).
Rapoport adds Randall left Lambeau Field after the dispute, but conflicting accounts exist regarding when the third-year defender left the stadium. Rapoport notes (via Twitter) Randall left after the game, but this incident was enough for he and McCarthy to discuss it in a private setting. McCarthy and Randall met Friday in his office to address the matter, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Internal discipline will be expected after the dispute, Demovsky notes.
While a suspension could be possible, the Packers do not appear to be looking to cut ties with their 2015 first-rounder. McCarthy said (via Demovsky) Randall will be with the team when it reconvenes for practice Tuesday.
Randall has started in each of the Packers’ four games this season but hasn’t been particularly effective. Pro Football Focus grades him as the No. 99 corner thus far. Randall started nine games in each of the past two seasons, but the Packers are now deeper at corner than they were last season. So options exist beyond Randall. This led to the team’s decision to waive Ladarius Gunter.
Latest On Packers RB Jamaal Williams
Although he went down on Thursday night, Packers running back Jamaal Williams did not suffer any ligament damage in his knee, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Williams “could” miss Green Bay’s next game — which doesn’t occur until October 8 — but is unlikely to be sidelined for any additional action.
Williams, a fourth-round rookie out of BYU, took over the Packers’ starting running back job last night after Ty Montgomery suffered broken ribs. However, Williams was dealt his own injury blow after playing only 12 offensive snaps. In that time, the 22-year-old rushed four times for 11 yards and caught his only target for two yards. On the season, Williams has posted nine carries for 32 yards.
While there hasn’t been a medical update on Montgomery, he seems likely to miss time, so rookie Aaron Jones could handle the lion’s share of carries in Green Bay’s next contest. Devante Mays — the third running back drafted by the Packers in 2017 — will likely be active when the Packers face the Cowboys in Week 5, while fullback Aaron Ripkowski will also ply a large role. A free agent addition can’t be ruled out, although the need for an external option may be reduced given William’s optimistic timeline.
Packers Notes: Adams, Williams, Randall
Packers wideout Davante Adams was taken to the hospital on Thursday night following a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan, but “everything is progressing well” for Adams, according to head coach Mike McCarthy. “He’s already giving them a hard time at the hospital to get out of there so that’s a great sign,” McCarthy said, per Curtis Crabrtee of Pro Football Talk. Adams suffered a concussion but his MRI is “clean,” per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Trevathan, meanwhile, earned a 15-yard personal foul for the hit but wasn’t ejected from last night’s game. The play is under review by the NFL, however, and Trevathan could be subject to a suspension, tweets Rapoport.
- Starting running back Ty Montgomery left last night’s contest early after suffering broken ribs, and the Packers are also down their No. 2 runner in Jamaal Williams, who is believed to have sprained his knee on Thursday, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Williams will likely miss time, meaning Green Bay will now lean on rookies Aaron Jones and Devante Mays in the backfield. While the Packers could conceivably get by with Jones, Mays, and fullback Aaron Ripkowski, the club will almost certainly add another back. Green Bay doesn’t have a running back on its practice squad, so it could look to a free agent market that includes DeAngelo Williams, Rashad Jennings, C.J. Spiller, and Ryan Mathews.
- After being benched at the start of the second half of last night’s contest, Packers cornerback Damarious Randall wasn’t on the sideline for the rest of the game and also wasn’t present in the post-game locker room, report Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Although McCarthy called the issue an “internal matter,” Demovsky speculates Randall could potentially be suspended or even waived. A second-round pick in 2015, Randall has thus far graded as a bottom-15 NFL cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus.
- Former Packers long snapper Brett Goode received a four-week injury settlement, while fullback Joe Kerridge got three weeks, according to veteran NFL reporter Bob McGinn (Twitter links). Both players must wait three weeks plus the length of their respective settlements before they’re eligible to re-sign with Green Bay.
Ty Montgomery Suffers Broken Ribs
Ty Montgomery left Thursday night’s Bears-Packers game in the first quarter, and some additional details as to why emerged after the rain delay.
The Packers running back suffered broken ribs, inducing the locker room trip, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The fractures occurred early, but the third-year performer attempted to play through the injury, Rapoport reports. He will not return to the game.
Green Bay’s carrying virtually no experience at running back behind Montgomery, himself drafted to play wide receiver. Fourth-round rookie Jamaal Williams entered the game for Montgomery in the first quarter, and the Packers also have fifth-rounder Aaron Jones and seventh-rounder Devante Mays. The latter is inactive tonight.
Despite a slow start on the ground (3.o yards per carry), Montgomery has been effective as a receiver thus far — 18 receptions for 129 yards through three games.
Packers Down Both Starting Tackles Again
- While Cohen will receive his first chance to display the elusiveness that enticed the Bears to a national audience, the Packers will be down several key players. Both starting tackles — David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga — are out, and Mike Daniels will miss the Week 4 tilt as well. The Packers are already down would-be backup options in Don Barclay, Jason Spriggs and Kyle Murphy — each on IR — so Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets a four-guard lineup could be on tap. Justin McCray, who started at tackle for Bakhtiari in Week 2, and fellow rookie Adam Pankey join second-year player Lucas Patrick in the mix to protect Aaron Rodgers on Thursday. Each of those players entered the league as a UDFA. The Packers played without both starting tackles against the Falcons, with Murphy and McCray receiving the replacement starts.
Packers Reach Injury Settlement With LS Brett Goode
- The Packers placed long snapper Brett Goode on the injured reserve yesterday, and ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reports that the player has now reached an injury settlement with the organization. This means the Packers can sign him later this season without making him one of the two players the team can return from the IR.
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Packers Place OT Kyle Murphy On IR
The Packers announced that they have placed tackle Kyle Murphy on injured reserve. It’s another bad break for the Packers’ banged up offensive line. 
The Packers were forced to put Murphy in the starting lineup two weeks ago as longtime starters starters David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga were sidelined with injury. That game marked Murphy’s first taste of real NFL action. Bulaga returned to the field on Sunday for the Packers’ OT win over the Bengals, but he re-aggravated his ankle injury during the game. Bakhtiari, meanwhile, did not dress.
On Monday, the Packers signed Ulrick John off of the Cardinals’ practice squad to take Murphy’s place on the roster. However, the Packers may need to make a more significant move to bolster their weakened O-Line.
Next up for the 2-1 Packers is a Thursday night contest against the Bears.
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2017 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Browns enjoyed top priority thanks to their 1-15 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com):
T-1. Bengals
T-1. Browns
T-1. 49ers
4. Giants
5. Chargers
6. Colts
T-7. Texans
T-7. Seahawks
9. Cardinals
10. Jets
11. Saints
12. Bears
13. Dolphins
14. Buccaneers
15. Ravens
T-16. Panthers
T-16. Cowboys
T-16. Rams
T-16. Steelers
T-20. Broncos
T-20. Lions
T-20. Packers
23. Vikings
T-24. Bills
T-24. Jaguars
T-24. Patriots
T-24. Raiders
T-24. Eagles
T-24. Titans
30. Redskins
31. Chiefs
32. Falcons