Jordan Love Faces a Rollercoaster Thanksgiving as the Packers Unveil Unexpected Twists That Could Change Everything.QQ
The Green Bay Packers will have their top cornerback against the Detroit Lions on Thursday. Despite suffering a neck injury on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, Keisean Nixon is officially active and will play on Thanksgiving versus the Detroit Lions. He was listed as questionable.
However, free agent addition Nate Hobbs is still out with his knee issue. Hobbs hasn’t played since Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers because of a knee injury, so this will be his fourth consecutive missed game — and fifth total this season.
Nixon and Carrington Valentine are expected to start at boundary cornerback, with safety Javon Bullard in the slot. The backups are Kamal Hadden, who played his first NFL defensive snaps on Sunday against the Vikings, converted wide receiver Bo Melton and cornerback/safety hybrid Jaylin Simpson, elevated from the practice squad.
Packers inactives
- WR Matthew Golden
- LB Quay Walker
- CB Nate Hobbs
- G Donovan Jennings
- WR Savion Williams
- EDGE Lukas Van Ness
- DT Karl Brooks
Matthew Golden is not ready yet
Rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden is not ready to return yet. After being limited versus the New York Giants and missing the Vikings game with shoulder and wrist injuries, the offensive weapon is inactive once again. The shoulder isn’t a problem anymore, but he was still listed as questionable because of the wrist — and ultimately, the Packers decided to be cautious.
Golden hasn’t been as immediately impactful as Packers fans hoped for when the team selected a wide receiver in the first round for the first time since 2002. In nine games, the rookie has had 24 catches for 286 yards and no touchdowns, in addition to eight carries for 45 yards.
Defensive issues
Off-ball linebacker Quay Walker will miss his second consecutive game because of a neck injury. Listed as questionable, he’s officially inactive. Without him, the starting linebackers are Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie, with Ty’Ron Hopper entering the lineup in base formations. The roster also has special teamer Kristian Welch, while Jamon Dumas-Johnson has been elevated from the practice squad for gameday to offer depth.
Lukas Van Ness, Karl Brooks, Savion Williams, and Jayden Reed had already been ruled out on Wednesday.
