Green Bay Packers release Thursday's playoff injury report

One week off has done a whole lot for the Green Bay Packers on the injury front, according to the Packers’ Thursday afternoon injury report.

The Packers, after finishing the regular season with a 13-4 record, clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the 2021 NFL Playoffs. In the process, the Packers earned a well-deserved — and, evidently, a much-needed — bye week, as Green Bay looked to get back to full strength ahead of their opening playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Here is a look at the Packers’ latest official injury report, released on Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s NFC Divisional Round contest.

Packers injury report as of Thursday

Questionable: LT David Bakhtiari (knee), CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder)

Doubtful: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back)

Full Participant/Expected to Play: G/T Billy Turner (knee), LB De’Vondre Campbell (elbow), RB Aaron Jones (knee)

Bakhtiari, one of the most vital players included in the Packers’ latest injury report practiced in pads on Thursday, according to Packers.com, perhaps pointing in the right direction ahead of Saturday. The five-time All-Pro left tackle plans to take another “load management” day on Friday, and he will not practice — but his absence won’t affect his status for Saturday.

“I think Dave’s in really good shape. Obviously, he puts a lot of time in,” head coach Matt LaFleur said of Bakhtiari. “You don’t have to be necessarily in great shape by going play after play out there on the field. I definitely think there is a difference to it in terms of some of the movements you make as a player as opposed to in a controlled environment, but he’s working his tail off and we’ll see where he’s at.”

Alexander — the other questionable player on the injury report — has practiced all week, albeit in a limited capacity, so his status remains unclear. If Alexander plays on Sunday, it will be his first in-game action since suffering his shoulder injury on Oct. 3 against the Steelers.

In addition, the Packers may or may not receive an extra boost ahead of the playoff game, according to the team website: linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus, both of whom were previously on injured reserve, can be activated on Friday. Should either be available to play on Saturday, they must first be activated on Friday.