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

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 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.”