Report: Packers dealt numerous blows ahead of Thanksgiving battle vs. Dolphins

As the Green Bay Packers prepare to host the Miami Dolphins for a Thanksgiving showdown, they’re having to navigate some tough availability news.

The Packers will be without wide receiver Romeo Doubs, cornerback Jaire Alexander and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper on Thursday.

This will be the second absence of the season for Doubs and his first since Week 5. The Packers will miss his production against the Dolphins, as he has been one of their top receivers this season. Across 10 games, he has 34 catches for 483 yards and two scores.

Cooper, meanwhile, is set to miss his second game of the season after he was also sidelined last week. The rookie has only started one game this season but has appeared in 10. He has two passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and 52 combined tackles.

As for Alexander, he has battled availability woes all season and is set to miss his fifth game of the campaign on Thursday. When he’s been on the field this season, he has racked up two interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown), seven passes defended and one fumble recovery. He is a two-time Pro Bowler.

While nobody ever wants to see injuries, the Dolphins may be facing a slightly less daunting road to a win as a result of some of Green Bay’s absences. Miami is 5-6 on the season and is trying to finally get back to .500 for the first time since the team was 1-1.

With very little margin for error remaining for the Dolphins, they need to do everything in their power to leave Thanksgiving with a road win over the Packers.

This is a short week for both teams. The Dolphins played Sunday against the New England Patriots, and the Packers played Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Now, they’re getting ready to take the field again on just a few days of rest.

Miami (three games) and Green Bay (two games) are both riding win streaks right now. One of those streaks will have to come to an end soon.