Jordan Love faces a depleted front line and missing weapons as the Green Bay Packers injuries mount.
Less than 24 hours before Thursday Night Football, the Green Bay Packers have officially ruled out four players.
Head coach Matt LaFleur and Co. are going into this one with defensive tackles Anthony Campbell and Javon Hargrave listed as questionable.
Otherwise, they got the expected news that star wide receiver Jayden Reed and offensive lineman Zach Bako-Bewele wouldn't be suiting up during the short week.
Bako-Bewele was recently ruled out for the rest of the season, though Reed's status remains up in the air.
The two other players ruled out were offensive guard Aaron Banks and DT Warren Brinson.
Packers offensive line takes another blow
There was no indication that Banks would be ruled out this soon, so that's another tough pill for quarterback Jordan Love to swallow.
It's not like the Atlanta Falcons have a top defense in the NFL, far from it, but teams are going to quickly learn that as good as Love is against the blitz, there's only so much he can do with the players he has up front.
Remember, this is a Packers team that had considered throwing tight end Tucker Kraft on the offensive line, a statement that doesn't feel real saying knowing they're only going into the third game of the season.
Losing Reed isn't the end of the world with Kraft healthy along with wide receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, but remember, this offense still doesn't know when running back Josh Jacobs will be able to play, if he even is at all this season.
Packers can't get greedy in Week 3
Players are still adjusting to getting back into live action and playing these games, so Green Bay needs to be as smart as possible with Hargrave and Campbell.
Those two are key pieces to this defense, no doubt, and it's one that is already missing Micah Parsons dearly.
That said, risking a long-term injury to either Hargrave or Campbell is only going to harm the team long-term.
Green Bay has to tread lightly moving forward, especially with how this team has looked in its first two games.
Their home opener against the Falcons gives them a chance to finally establish the run and prove why they're once again a playoff contender, and that also goes for this defense.
Lukas Van Ness can only do so much by himself until Parsons returns, but it seems like the Packers have established enough threats elsewhere, for the time being.
