The Green Bay Packers enter the start of training camp next week as a mostly healthy team. Still, there are two injured starters from a year ago who are working to rehab from season-ending injuries and return to the team.
Both players are former first-round draft picks who were starting at the time of their injuries. Both were also expected to play big roles on defense going forward.
But the question remains when these players will be ready to return to action?
Rashan Gary
The first player working his way back from injury is edge rusher Rashan Gary. The former University of Michigan star was enjoying the best start to a season of his career when a knee injury ended his 2022 campaign in Week 9 in Detroit.
Before the injury, Gary recorded six sacks in eight games and was getting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He established himself as the team’s best pass rusher and was on his way to a Pro Bowl season.
Gary has been rehabbing the knee throughout the offseason. He did not participate in team drills at OTAs or minicamp but was working individually with team trainers and coaches to prepare for his return.
The key question for Gary will be whether he will start the season on the active roster or the PUP list. If he is on the PUP list, he will have to miss the first four games of the season. He may also see only limited action initially upon his return.
Getting Gary back will be a big boost for the Packers pass rush. His absence will give young players like Kingsley Enagbare and first-round pick Lukas Van Ness a chance to play a larger role in the defense.
Eric Stokes
Eric Stokes is in a different position than Gary. Stokes is working his way back from a knee and foot injury with the latter being the more serious.
Like Gary, Stokes was injured during the Packers Week 9 loss in Detroit. Unlike Gary, he was not enjoying a strong season when he was hurt.
After a strong rookie campaign, Stokes endured a painful sophomore slump in 2022. Opposing quarterbacks completed 80 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Stokes and had a quarterback rating of 123.5 according to pro-football-reference.com.
Stokes excels when he can press receivers at the line of scrimmage, but defensive coordinator Joe Barry usually employed soft zones which did not play to Stokes’ strengths.
Gary seems closer to being ready to return than Stokes. Stokes may also start the season on the PUP list. He faces a less certain future upon his return. Stokes plays the perimeter but so do Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas. With Keisean Nixon expected to be the slot corner, there may not be an available role for Stokes to play.
Both injured players will improve the Green Bay defense upon their return. When that will be and what role they will play upon return remains to be determined.
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