Logo

Green Bay Packers Coach Matt LaFleur Voices Major Concerns Over Key Players' Injuries

Article image

GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers veteran kicker Brandon McManus suffered a right quad injury during the team's Oct. 8 practice.

When asked about it in his Oct. 9 pre-practice news conference, Packers coach Matt LaFleur called it a “major concern.”

Then McManus told reporters following practice he plans to play against the Cincinnati Bengals.

When asked if the injury was a major concern, McManus said: “(Matt) didn’t speak to me about that. He has his own thesaurus, encyclopedia to describe injuries.”

His coach heard the comment.

“We’ll see when we get out there. I’ve got to check my thesaurus, apparently,” LaFleur said during his Oct. 10 news conference.

McManus has previous experience with this type of injury. He said he had a similar injury in 2022 when he was with the Denver Broncos.

"We were going into playing the Ravens when I was with the Broncos," he said. "(The injury) happened on a Wednesday, then I pretty much took the week off and played on Sunday.

"I had a pretty good game, I had two 50-yarders and a 40-yarder in that game, so I plan on playing."

LaFleur said they will monitor McManus while also working out other kickers just in case.

“That’s what I was trying to tell him, yeah, you’ve dealt with this, but we haven’t, and I haven’t in my experience," LaFleur said. "You’re a kicker and your leg is bothering you, that’s a problem. It’s no different than a quarterback having something with their throwing arm or throwing shoulder, that is a concern. Whether or not you can work through it or not, time will tell.”

Here are other takeaways from LaFleur’s news conference and some injury updates:

Packers reportedly reach $15.3M agreement with K Brandon McManus - Yahoo  Sports

Packers practice report

The Packers had offensive lineman Anthony Belton (ankle) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee) stay inside the Don Hutson Center as the rest of the team went outside for practice Oct. 10. The two linemen have missed practice all week.

Rasheed Walker (quad) missed the Oct. 9 practice but went outside to join the team Oct. 10.

McManus usually practices kicks on Wednesdays and Fridays each week. He had cleats on, but it was unclear if he kicked in practice, as the media is not allowed access on Fridays.

Christian Watson won’t play this week, per coach Matt LaFleur

Packers receiver Christian Watson returned to practice this week for the first time since tearing his ACL in last season's Week 18 matchup against the Chicago Bears in January.

His 21-day practice window from the PUP list opened Oct. 6. Watson said he’s feeling healthy and eager for his return to action.

LaFleur confirmed Watson won’t play in the upcoming game.

“He has looked pretty damn good, so I’m excited for when that day comes,” LaFleur said. “He’s definitely going to add an element to our offense.”

Bills Cheerleader Sues Bills Player for Sexual Harassment After He Relentlessly Flirted With Her – Despite Being Married with a Child
BUFFALO, NY – December 11, 2025 A bombshell lawsuit has just been filed in Erie County Court that has all of Western New York talking. Ashley, the 24-year-old face of the Buffalo Jills and widely regarded as the squad’s most popular and recognizable cheerleader, has officially sued a current Buffalo Bills player for what her legal team calls “persistent and unwanted sexual harassment through aggressive flirting” – even though the player is married with a young child. Court documents obtained today name 27-year-old Shane Buechele – the Bills’ third-string QB who married his high-school sweetheart Reiley in 2022 and has a 2-year-old son – as the defendant. What the lawsuit alleges: Since the start of the 2025 season, Buechele allegedly began sending Ashley private Instagram messages after every home game, complimenting her looks and performances with increasingly suggestive language. Multiple late-night phone calls (some as late as 2-3 a.m.) in which Buechele allegedly complained about his lack of playing time, “just wanted to hear her voice,” and invited her for private coffee meet-ups. Unsolicited shirtless and suggestive photos sent directly to Ashley’s phone. Repeatedly showing up “by coincidence” at community and charity events Ashley was scheduled to attend, creating unwanted one-on-one encounters. In the filing, Ashley states: “I made it crystal clear on multiple occasions that I only wanted a professional relationship and was focused on my career. He completely ignored my boundaries. The middle-of-the-night calls left me terrified and suffering from severe insomnia. This has taken a serious toll on my mental health.” Immediate fallout: The Buffalo Bills have suspended Shane Buechele indefinitely without pay pending an internal investigation. Reiley Buechele has locked all of her social media accounts and has made no public statement. Ashley’s attorney says they will seek damages “well into seven figures” and hope the case sets a precedent for better protection of NFL cheerleaders league-wide. The NFL has confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely and may impose additional discipline. One Bills Mafia is completely split: #TeamAshley supporters are demanding Buechele be cut immediately: “Married with a kid and still doing this? Disgusting.” Others are calling it an overreaction: “Flirty DMs and compliments? This feels like a money grab or a PR stunt.” The case is still in its earliest stages, with an initial court appearance expected in early 2026. What do YOU think – is this legitimate workplace harassment, or is the cheerleader blowing things out of proportion? Drop your take in the comments and turn on notifications – this story is only getting hotter!