Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard said Thursday he expects to miss this week’s game against the Buffalo Bills after injuring his shoulder last week.

Lazard added he’s not concerned long term about the shoulder but responded “probably not” when asked about playing Sunday.

Lazard missed practice for a second consecutive day Thursday.

Lazard said he was injured on the final play of the third quarter in last week’s loss to the Washington Commanders, describing how it felt.

“A pop. Crack. Snack, crackle pop,” Lazard told reporters, referencing Rice Krispies cereal. “The three rice crispy men showed up, too.”

Lazard, 26, has 26 catches for 340 yards and four touchdowns in six starts this season. He missed Week 1 with an ankle injury after getting stepped on in practice.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (throwing thumb) was back Thursday as a limited participant after sitting out Wednesday’s practice. He might not recognize his receivers on the practice field.

In addition to Lazard’s absence, Randall Cobb is on injured reserve, and wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Romeo Doubs were limited for the second consecutive day with hamstring injuries. The top wide receiver in terms of receptions in 2022 available to practice Thursday was rookie Christian Watson, who has seven receptions for 52 yards. Watson was inactive the past two games.

Left tackle David Bakhtiari did not participate Thursday after being limited on Wednesday. Bakhtiari called his knee a “fluid situation” but didn’t elaborate. He missed last week’s game.

“That situation’s going to be fluid the rest of the year,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday.

Linebacker Rashan Gary (concussion) was a limited participant Thursday after missing Wednesday. Cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (ankle) did not participate. Guard Elgton Jenkins (knee) was limited after a DNP on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers No. 1 wideout Allen Lazard is returning to practice Wednesday after missing the team’s season opener.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Lazard, who sustained an ankle injury after being stepped on two weeks ago in practice, would be returning in the week’s first practice for Week 2.

“Yeah, he’ll be out there,” LaFleur said.

Lazard was sorely missed in Green Bay’s 23-7 loss to Minnesota in Week 1. Backup running back A.J. Dillon led the team in receptions – five catches for 46 yards on a team-high six targets.

Rookie wideout Romeo Doubs was second with four catches for 37 yards. Sunday starter Christian Watson dropped a sure-fire TD pass from Aaron Rodgers that made the rounds on national highlights coming out of the game.

Starters Randall Cobb had just two catches for 14 yards and Sammy Watkins hauled in three catches for 18 yards.

Lazard, 26, has 109 career catches for 1,448 yards and 14 touchdowns in 42 games (25 starts) since the Packers signed him in December 2018. He was an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State.

LaFleur wouldn’t say if offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) would be participating Wednesday.

The Packers (0-1) host the rival Chicago Bears (1-0) on Sunday night.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers No. 1 wide receiver Allen Lazard missed the team’s first game-week practice on Wednesday after getting stepped on last week.

Lazard also missed practice Wednesday of last week and again Monday. The reason was a mystery until Packers coach Matt LaFleur gave an update.

“He will not be practicing today. He got stepped on last week. That’s where we’re at with him,” LaFleur said Wednesday.

LaFleur did not say which body part got stepped on, though the team’s first injury report will be released later Wednesday. It’s expected that Lazard will be listed as questionable for Week 1.

Lazard, 26, is one of a cadre of wideouts looking to fill the shoes of the departed Davante Adams, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason.

Lazard has 109 career catches for 1,448 yards and 14 touchdowns in 42 games (25 starts) since the Packers signed him in December 2018. He was an undrafted free agent out of Iowa State.

Lazard, Randall Cobb and Sammy Watkins were listed as the starters on the team’s first official depth chart. Wideouts Christian Watkins, Romeo Doubs, Amari Rodgers and Samori Toure are also on the 53-man roster.

The Packers open their season at Minnesota on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Aaron Rodgers won’t be losing all of his key wide receivers in 2022.

After being absent from the team’s minicamp last week amid speculation he was seeking a long-term contract extension, Allen Lazard signed his restricted free-agent tender on Monday.

NFL Network reported earlier Monday Lazard’s intention to sign his tender worth nearly $4 million next season. He later confirmed the news by tweeting a photo of him inking the agreement.

Lazard, 26, comes off his best statistical year in his fourth NFL season. In a career-high 13 starts (15 games), he posted 40 receptions for 513 yards along with eight touchdown catches. He ranked second on the team in both receiving yards and TD receptions behind five-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams.

In 42 career games (25 starts), Lazard has 109 catches for 1,448 yards and 14 touchdowns with Green Bay. The 6-foot-5 wideout was originally signed as an undrafted free agent (Iowa State) by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018. The Packers snagged him off the Jaguars’ practice squad later that December.

With Adams (123 catches, 1,553 yards, 11 TDs in 2021) gone after engineering a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason — plus two other free-agent departures (Marquez Valdes-Scantling to Kansas City Chiefs, Equanimeous St. Brown to Chicago Bears) — the Packers will also have rookie wideout Christian Watson in the mix for targets. Green Bay traded up to select Watson out of North Dakota State in the second round (34th overall pick) in April’s draft.

–Field Level Media