GREEN BAY – Head Coach Matt LaFleur briefed the media Monday on a number of the Packers' injured players.
Here's the latest on …
David Bakhtiari: The five-time All-Pro left tackle is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list (PUP) and begin practicing this week, which would open a three-week window during which Bakhtiari could practice without taking up a 53-man roster spot.
LaFleur said he "would anticipate" Bakhtiari practicing this week, but there would be a "ramp-up period" for Bakhtiari to gain confidence in his reconstructed knee before the coaching staff would look at inserting him into game action.
"When you're coming off a pretty significant injury, you don't want to just throw somebody out there," LaFleur said.
Preston Smith: The veteran edge rusher has never missed a game in his seven-year career but is in danger of doing so after leaving Sunday's game in Chicago with an oblique injury.
LaFleur didn't rule him out for this week's game vs. his old team, Washington, but he sounded a cautious tone on not wanting Smith's injury to get worse and become a long-term issue.
"We'll just see how he's feeling this week," LaFleur said. "I know he's definitely motivated to want to play."
Josh Myers: The rookie center left the Bears game in the first quarter with a knee injury and is expected to miss multiple games.
Kevin King: The cornerback's shoulder injury, which kept him out against Chicago, may not require a three-game minimum stint on injured reserve, and LaFleur considers his status day-to-day.
"It's something that's getting better every day," he said.
Jaire Alexander: Season-ending surgery on the second-team All-Pro corner's injured shoulder still has not been ruled out, but the medical scans to this point show Alexander's recovery "progressing nicely."
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: The speedy receiver's hamstring injury has kept him out three games, and he's eligible to return from IR this week, but LaFleur did not know if he would be back at practice.
Among other injured players, there was no mention Monday of outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith (on IR, back) or safety Darnell Savage (left Sunday with concussion).
Tight end Dominique Dafney, who is on IR with a hip injury, returned to practice last week but has not yet been reinstated to the active roster.
