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The Green Bay Packers officially ruled out receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf), defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot) and linebacker Nick Niemann (pectoral) versus the Carolina Panthers, after all three were non-participants throughout the week. Both Wicks and Van Ness were out last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Niemann dropped out of the game with his injury.
Beyond those three, the Packers also listed two players as questionable for the game: linebacker Quay Walker (calf) and kicker Brandon McManus (quadricep).
Walker not listed with an injury at all on Wednesday, but popped up on the injury report on Thursday. According to head coach Matt LaFleur, Walker “felt something” ahead of Thursday’s practice, leading him to be a non-participant after being seen in full pads by the media during warmups that day. On Friday, Walker returned to practice as a limited participant.
McManus was a full participant for the first time in three weeks on Thursday and Friday practices, but is still not 100 percent, based on his questionable status.
From a roster perspective, the only injuries that put the Packers in a pinch are at linebacker, which will probably result in at least one of Kristian Welch or Jamon Johnson being called up to the gameday roster this week from the practice squad.
Packers players who are banged up but will be active on Sunday are quarterback Malik Willis (ankle), running back Josh Jacobs (calf), receiver Christian Watson (knee), left guard Aaron Banks (shin), right tackle Zach Tom (back) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee).
On the Carolina Panthers’ side of the injury report, the big news is that quarterback Bryce Young, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury, is going to start against the Packers. Backup quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) is questionable after breaking his thumb last week.
The offensive line is also going to be an issue for the Panthers, as right guard Brady Christensen was placed on the injured reserve this week and center Cade Mays (ankle/knee) has already been ruled out for this week’s game. At right tackle, Taylor Morton (knee), is listed as questionable after missing practice on Wednesday and being a limited participant on both Thursday and Friday.
Other questionable players in this game for Carolina include guard Damien Lewis (oblique), guard Chandler Zavala (knee), linebacker Trevin Wallace (shoulder) and safety Nick Scott (groin). Pass rusher Princely Umanmielen (ankle) was also ruled out on the final injury report.
