Stephen A. Smith believes that the Packers are unable to defeat the Cardinals without Davante Adam. (0:51).
GLENDALE (Ariz.) -- There are no Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and no Marquez Valdes–Scantling for Thursday's Green Bay Packers matchup against the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals.
Valdes-Scantling was their last chance at having one of their top three receivers. However, the Packers (6-1) have not yet activated him to allow him to rest from his hamstring injury. A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Packers (6-1) aren't expected to activate him. The injury has kept him out of the last four games.
COVID-19 protocols ruled out Adams and Lazard -- Adams due to a positive test, and Lazard because of an unvaccinated close friend.
Even though Lazard was not allowed to play, the Packers kept hoping that he would be. However, the NFL did not officially rule him out by phone call to the team. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported. Lazard, unvaccinated, and Peter Schaffer, his agent, argued to the league that Lazard wasn't a close contact with Adams and therefore had no chance for COVID-19 transmission. Five consecutive days of rapid and/or PCR COVID-19 testing were negative for Lazard. His five-day quarantine period of five days should have begun on Saturday, he argued. All that was not enough for the NFL, so Lazard could be cleared Friday. The Packers were not sure if Adams would be available for Sunday games, but Lazard most likely would.
Adams is third in the NFL with 744 receiving yard on 52 receptions. This ranks him tied for second. Adams' receptions in the NFL this season are twice that of Aaron Jones, their next pass-catcher and 37 more than Lazard (15), the biggest gap between No. 1, and No. 2 receivers for a team in NFL.
In the first three games, Valdes-Scantling only had six catches for 76 yards with a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers regretted that he missed more than one deep ball. With 33 catches for 690 yard and six touchdowns, Valdes-Scantling was the NFL's leading catcher with 20.9 yards an average.
Randall Cobb and Equanimeous Saint Brown are the Packers' top receivers. Malik Taylor is second, followed by Amari Rodgers. Taylor was on the COVID-19 List since Oct. 15, but was activated Tuesday.
Juwann Winfree (receiver) and Chris Blair (receiver) could face the Cardinals (7-0), if they are elevated by 4:05 p.m. ET Dominique Dafney, a tight end, is also eligible to be taken off the injured reserve.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Packers will also be without Joe Barry as defensive coordinator. Barry's duties will be handled by Jerry Gray, defensive backs coach, and Kirk Olivadotti, inside linebackers coach.
