GREEN BAY, Wis. — The final practice of this year’s training camp is arguably the most important. The Arizona Cardinals are in town for a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers, offering key decision-makers on both sides one last look at their starting lineups in a controlled environment.
Both the Packers and Cardinals are unlikely to play their starters in Friday’s preseason finale at Lambeau Field. Wednesday’s practice is going to be imperative for roster construction and player evaluation. Teams around the league will have to trim their rosters down to 53 players by 5 p.m. CST Sunday.
The three players who dropped out of Friday night’s game against the Denver Broncos with injuries—wideout Savion Williams, edge rusher Collin Oliver, and defensive tackle Warren Brinson—are at risk of missing time to begin the regular season. In his pre-practice press conference, head coach Matt LaFleur said that all three players could “potentially” remain shelved for the Sept. 13 opener versus the Minnesota Vikings. They make up three of the four players, along with tight end Thomas Yassmin, to miss the joint practice.
The Packers are getting a twist of good fortune, however. Starting nickelback Javon Bullard is practicing for the first time since dropping out of the Aug. 9 session with a foot injury. He was in a walking boot with a bone bruise, keeping him sidelined for the Packers’ first two exhibition games.
Elsewhere in the secondary, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste returned after missing Monday’s practice with a hamstring injury. After Brandon Cisse exited the game in Denver with a knee injury, St-Juste replaced him opposite Keisean Nixon. He’s spent much of training camp rotating with the Packers’ Nos. 1 and 2 defensive units after signing a multi-year deal with the team over the offseason.
Edge rusher Arron Mosby was also back in the mix at practice after missing Monday’s session. He’s on the heels of playing 52 defensive snaps in the Packers’ two preseason games, as well as 25 on special teams. Much like has been the case throughout his time in Green Bay, Mosby is expected to be a valued member of Cam Achord’s special teams unit.
The following players won’t practice against the Cardinals.
EDGE Collin Oliver (Calf)
The Packers had an extensive look at Collin Oliver in the preseason opener against the Steelers, and likely would’ve had a front-row seat for more of the same in Denver. However, he dropped out of the game with a calf injury after playing just six defensive snaps. He played a whopping 38 snaps against the Steelers, totaling one pressure, a pair of tackles, and one “stop,” which is defined by Pro Football Focus as “a tackle that constitutes a failure for the offense.”
DT Warren Brinson (Calf)
Warren Brinson, a former sixth-round pick, tweaked his calf during warm-ups Friday night. LaFleur said that he’s going to miss some time, which is never a good sign less than a week away from when the Packers have to trim their roster. He likely won’t participate in Wednesday’s joint practice against the Cardinals, and he’d be hard-pressed to play in the preseason finale.
WR Savion Williams (Ankle)
This is something to monitor considering Savion Williams’ injury-plagued rookie season. He dealt with lower-body injuries for the duration of the year, and it’s appearing that his sophomore campaign is going to begin similarly. Williams played just two snaps against the Broncos—both with the Packers’ No. 1 offense—before exiting the game.
TE Thomas Yassmin (Knee)
The Australian-born tight end was working with the rehab group on Monday after playing 17 snaps for the Packers’ No. 3 offense in Denver. Yassmin was on the receiving end of a six-yard reception before evidently picking up a knee issue. Hopefully, it’s a minor injury that he’ll be able to overcome—the Packers have spent much of training camp drastically thin at the position.