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The Green Bay Packers have officially opened the practice window for linebacker Nick Niemann, who went on the injured reserve with a pectoral injury, to return. He will have 21 days to practice with the Packers before the team will need to make the decision to either end his season or bring him up to the 53-man roster. During those 21 days, Green Bay is free to call him up to the active roster.
Niemann was initially replaced by Kristian Welch, both of whom are more special teams contributors than actual linebackers, but Welch is now on the injured reserve as well.
Niemann was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday, along with the following players:
Beyond those players, receiver Dontayvion Wicks was a non-participant due to a concussion on Wednesday, while quarterback Jordan Love remains in the concussion protocol but was a full participant in practice.
The Packers have also placed the following players on the injured reserve this week:
The earliest that any of those players can return is in the Super Bowl.
Niemann’s designation to return is the Packers’ fifth of the year. Teams are allowed eight of these designations per regular season and are awarded two more for the postseason. As far as I can tell, the only other player who could possibly return (at least before the Super Bowl) is running back MarShawn Lloyd, who would be able to join the 53-man roster as early as the divisional round of the playoffs.
