Mercilus makes good on his vow and returns to practice
Tom Silverstein
GREEN BAY - As soon as the injury happened, a torn biceps that appeared to automatically signal the end of his season, Whitney Mercilus was defiant.
The odds he could somehow play again this season were not good. Mercilus tore his biceps Nov. 14 early in the third quarter as he tried to wrap up a sack against Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. A torn biceps can cost the year even if it comes much earlier in the season. Mercilus wouldn’t hear of that. “He’s been saying since the night he got hurt,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said, “he’s like, ‘I’m going to be back. I’m coming back. I promise you I’m coming back.’”
When the Packers’ coaching staff held its weekly meeting with head athletics trainer Bryan Engel after returning from Detroit, Barry learned Mercilus had made remarkable progress. The 31-year-old veteran linebacker indeed had a chance to play again this season.
Still, Barry couldn’t have imagined how quickly Mercilus might return.
Mercilus practiced Thursday for the first time since his injury almost exactly two months earlier. Even though Barry said Mercilus was limited, it was worth noting the Packers were in pads Thursday.
Mercilus showed some pass rush after arriving midseason following his release from the Houston Texans, where he was a second-team All-Pro in 2016. Before his injury, he had a sack against Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
In four games, Mercilus set a good edge against the run and could be used primarily on early downs if cleared for the playoffs, complementing Za’Darius Smith’s simultaneous return to the field.
As a fourth outside linebacker, Mercilus highlights the Packers’ unprecedented depth entering these playoffs.
His return joins a list including Za’Darius Smith, cornerback Jaire Alexander, left tackle David Bakhtiari, right tackle Billy Turner and center Josh Myers. Each practiced Thursday with the team continuing to get work on the field during its bye.
Busy weekend for interviews
It may be a bye week, but offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy have some work to do.
Hackett is scheduled to interview with three teams — Jacksonville, Chicago and Denver — for their headcoaching positions, starting with the Broncos on Friday and Jacksonville on Saturday, according to a source. The interview with the Broncos and Jaguars will take place in person in Green Bay and the interview with the Bears will be done on a video call.
Getsy will meet face-to-face with the Broncos, who will be flying into Green Bay after interviewing Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Summers sighting
Linebacker Ty Summers, who has been on injured reserve since Dec. 24 with a hamstring injury, was designated for return Wednesday and took part in the full-pads practice Thursday. Summers plays on almost every special teams unit and ranks tied for fifth with five tackles.
“He brings experience to the unit,” special teams coach Maurice Drayton said. “He is one of our leaders, and he’s done a great job the past few weeks in the classroom of leading and using teachable moments and echoing some of the coaching from his vantage point and from the guys’ vantage point, so having him back on the field would be huge.”
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a second straight day.
Wide receiver Marquez ValdesScantling (back), cornerback Chandon Sullivan (knee) and defensive end Kingsley Keke (illness) were the only ones who did not practice.
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