The Green Bay Packers are hopeful to get some key players back from injuries in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints, but the practice week got off to an inauspicious start ahead of Monday night’s clash.

Unfortunately for the Packers, neither linebacker Quay Walker nor safety Javon Bullard practiced for Green Bay on Thursday, the team’s first full workout leading up to Monday night’s game against the Saints.

Packers Could Be Without Two Starters vs. Saints

Walker suffered an ankle injury against the Seahawks on Sunday night, and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur says that the plan is for the veteran linebacker to take this week to recover from the injury before determining whether he is healthy enough to suit up and play against the Saints.

Meanwhile, Bullard injured his ankle the previous week against the Detroit Lions and has not been able to practice since.

Before getting hurt, the rookie safety had been a solid complement on the back-end of defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s secondary, alongside potential All-Pro Xavier McKinney, who arrived as a free agent signing this past offseason.

If the Packers are without two defensive starters, this might be the week to allow them to rest up, against a Saints team that has struggled mightily on offense this season and will turn to backup quarterback Spencer Rattler in relief of injured starter Derek Carr.

With a showdown against the Minnesota Vikings looming in Week 17, if Bullard and Walker aren’t fully healthy in time for Monday night, perhaps resting them another game to potentially be back on the field for a contest with monumental playoff implications might not be the worst outcome for the Packers.