Packers Ex-1st Rounder Gets Playing Status For Week 9
The Green Bay Packers are looking to consolidate their spot atop the NFC with a win against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Whilst the offense got some big praise last weekend, as the team managed to go through the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pennsylvania, it is the defense that has arguably been the star of the show.
The team rank 6th in total defense, and a massing 3rd in rushing defense, and part of the reason for that has been the excellent play of the linebacking corps, Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper.
However, according to the Packers injury report – as reported by Tom Silverstein – the Packers could be without one of the dynamic duo on Sunday.
#Packers – #Panthers injury report: LB Quay Walker, K Brandon McManus are questionable; #Panthers C Cade Mays is out; T Taylor Morton is questionable.
“Packers – Panthers injury report: LB Quay Walker, K Brandon McManus are questionable; Panthers C Cade Mays is out; T Taylor Morton is questionable.” Silverstein posted on X on Friday.
Packers Will Be Short Multiple Defensive Players On Sunday
The Packers wil also be short backup inside linebacker, Nick Neimann, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs, and rotational edge rusher, Lukas Van Ness, who is currently in his third season with the organization after having been drafted out of Iowa with the 13th overall pick back in 2023.
Critically, Green Bay could also be without kicker, Brandon McManus, who is questionable – like Walker – with a quadriceps injury.
However, his spot in the starting lineup could be in trouble, irregardless of his injury status. Fill-in place kicker, Lucas Havrisik, made 4-4 field goals in games against the Bengals and Cardinals on October 12th and 19th – during which McManus was also out with injury.
And at the same time, the Pro Bowler, McManus missed two field goals against the Steelers last weekend; one from 57 yards, and the other from 44 – whilst Havrisik set a new franchise record with a 61-yarder hit against the Cardinals in just his second game with the team.
More to follow..
The Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster
The Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-2) are getting back in their groove, winning four straight games after their 2-1 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars. While the Lightning look to rise to the top of the Atlantic Division their American Hockey League (AHL, Syracuse Crunch) and ECHL teams (Orlando Solar Bears) are heading in opposite directions. The Crunch are cruising, with a 6-1-0-0 record, which leads the North Division, while the Solar Bears own a dreadful 1-4-0-0 record, allowing twice as many goals (20) as they’ve scored.
Even still, there are standouts littered in the minors for Tampa Bay, and in some instances, the Lightning could decide to promote some of them on the NHL roster.
AHL: Jakob Pelletier, F
The Lightning signed Pelletier to a three-year contract last offseason in the hopes he’d reach his massive upside. At 24 years old, the 2019 first-round pick scored four goals and seven assists with a plus-10 rating in 24 games for the Calgary Flames last season. That’s an average of about 14-24-38 over a full season, and he was usually playing bottom-six minutes.
Unfortunately, the Flames traded the winger to Philadelphia for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost in late January. Pelletier couldn’t get back his offensive spark in Philadelphia. With the Flyers, he scored just three goals, five assists, and eight points in 25 games, sometimes being healthy scratched. When he was due $840,000 on a qualifying offer on a two-way deal, the Flyers non-tendered him, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Pelletier hasn’t made his debut with the Lightning, but with the Crunch, he’s thriving. Through seven games, Pelletier has notched four goals and five assists, with a plus-1 rating. He currently leads the Crunch in points and goals. In a 5-2 win against the Hershey Bears, Pelletier had two goals and an assist.
If Pelletier keeps this pace up, the Lightning could recall him, and he could be an injection of youth Tampa Bay desperately needs right now.
AHL: Dylan Duke, F
Dylan Duke is another young talent the Lightning hope can evolve into an NHL-caliber forward. He was drafted 121st overall by Tampa Bay after a stellar career with the Michigan Wolverines. In 2023-24, Duke was on a team with NHL draftees Gavin Brindley, Rutger McGroarty, and Seamus Casey. However, Duke led the team in goals (26) and finished third in points (49). Overall, he finished with 54 goals and 46 assists in 123 games.
Duke has just one goal in the NHL level so far, but he is turning a new leaf with the Crunch this season. He’s scored one goal and added six assists for seven points through seven games. He is currently in the top 20 in assists in the AHL level.
It appears Duke could be taking a big jump from his rookie season, when he scored 20 goals, 20 assists, and 40 points through 62 games. Like Pelletier, Duke is another young forward the Lightning are looking to develop into an NHL-caliber player. Unlike Pelletier, Duke is just 22, and he has time to grow and become another late-round NHL contributor for the Lightning.
ECHL: Spencer Kersten, F
It’s hard to find a standout for the Solar Bears this season, but there’s one player who’s been tried and true for them. Spencer Kersten continues to shine for Orlando.
Kersten spent four years with Princeton University and one year at Bowling-Green University before signing with the Solar Bears in 2024. In his rookie season, Kersten shined, recording 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points through 60 games. That earned him a spot on the 2024-25 ECHL All-Rookie team.
This year, Kersten has increased his scoring output, with three goals and three assists for six points through five games. He is on pace to record 86 points this season.
That could earn Kersten a recall to the AHL. His strong play with Orlando earned him brief stints with the Crunch and the Belleville Senators on loan. He scored one goal in nine games with the Crunch, but he could be in line for more opportunities in the AHL if he keeps up this pace.
