A return appears to be on the horizon for Packers’ Stokeskes appears to be on the mend after suffering a season-ending injury in 2022, setting the way for a possible return on Monday night.

Eric Stokes is expected to be back in the Green Bay Packers’ defensive lineup this week after returning to practice for the first time since his season-ending injury in 2022.

There are still some unknowns, such as Jaire Alexander’s back injury and Rudy Ford’s oblique problem, but the team’s secondary might be fully operational for the first time since last fall. Stokes began the regular season on the physically unable-to-perform list, which means he’ll have to miss at least the first four games of the season before being permitted to train with the rest of the team. He returned on Tuesday and has now completed three consecutive workouts without incident.

Stokes, along with Alexander, Ford, and running back Aaron Jones, are all questionable to play against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Packers began a 21-day window in which they must activate Stokes to the 53-man roster the moment he practiced for the first time. If he is not activated within that timeframe, he will be placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season. “I think he did everything we’ve asked him to do,” Matt LaFleur said of Alexander. “We’ll see how he’s feeling Monday night.”

After a good rookie season, Stokes’ second season in the league was disrupted by a Lisfranc injury in his foot and a damaged meniscus in his knee. He was one of two defensive starters who suffered season-ending injuries in that Nov. 6 game against the Detroit Lions, the other being Rashan Gary, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament the same day.

Stokes was available to the Packers for the first two months of 2022, but it appeared that a sophomore slump was in full swing. According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks targeted him frequently, completing 21 of their 25 passing attempts into his coverage for 275 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 125.8. He did not have a single pass break-up.

However, the former first-round pick did not leave the lineup. His status is secure; it’s simply a matter of how the Packers rebuild their secondary. Alexander and Rasul Douglas have been the team’s starting cornerbacks, with Keisean Nixon serving as the team’s primary nickelback. Stokes’ return will most likely push Nixon out of the lineup and force Douglas to play in the spot where he spent the first part of last season. Douglas played 190 defensive snaps at the nickel position for the Packers in their first eight games.