Hargrave’s suspected Achilles tear adds to Packers’ defensive injuries

Green Bay’s 31-7 win over Chicago came with another serious injury concern for its defense. Coach Matt LaFleur said early indications pointed to an Achilles injury for defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who was carted off late in Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport subsequently reported that Hargrave was believed to have torn the tendon. That diagnosis remained preliminary Sunday night, with an MRI still needed to confirm it, according to NBC Sports’ report. A confirmed tear would leave the Packers facing another season-ending absence a week after linebacker Edgerrin Cooper’s Achilles injury.

LaFleur opened his postgame news conference by describing the afternoon as bittersweet. He said he had just seen Hargrave and that the situation did not look good. Asked about the nature of the injury, he identified the Achilles as the early indication. The Packers’ official game report also recorded those comments and said Hargrave left just after the fourth-quarter two-minute warning.

Green Bay had already taken control of the game and was closing out a victory that moved it to 3-2, level with Chicago. Packers Wire reported that Hargrave went down without contact while pursuing Bears quarterback Case Keenum on the final defensive possession. He needed help leaving the field.

Hargrave, 33, joined Green Bay in March after one season in Minnesota. The veteran has also played for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and San Francisco. His arrival gave the Packers an experienced interior defender, and LaFleur emphasized both his value as a player and his place in the locker room when addressing the injury.

Cooper’s loss was already official: Green Bay placed the linebacker on injured reserve on Oct. 6. Hargrave’s status now creates a separate question for the defensive front. The next substantive update will be confirmation of the injury and any roster response; Sunday’s preliminary assessment does not establish a recovery timetable.

The Packers also lost receiver and returner Skyy Moore to an ankle injury and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste to a hamstring injury against Chicago. Their official recap said no postgame updates were provided on either player. Those unresolved cases add to the follow-up work after a convincing divisional win.

Sources

Packers official five takeaways from Bears win · NBC Sports: Hargrave believed to have suffered torn Achilles · Hargrave injury on final possession · Packers place Cooper on injured reserve