Brandon Cisse expects to be back in the Green Bay Packers lineup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, even after leaving last week's game with a shoulder and neck injury. The rookie cornerback said Thursday he plans to take his usual place at Ford Field after a week in which the Packers kept him limited in practice.
That is the immediate story because Cisse did not finish the Packers' victory over the Dallas Cowboys, exiting with roughly eight minutes left after a stinger left his arm numb. He said he needed patience while feeling returned to his fingers and shoulder, but his tone on Thursday was upbeat: “I’m rehabbing and doing good,” he said, according to Bill Huber of Packers On SI.
Cisse's expected return matters because Green Bay needs him on a defense that has leaned heavily on him since his first snaps. He has played 370 defensive snaps across six games, about 88 percent of the Packers' defensive workload in that span, while also helping on special teams. The production has followed the playing time: 25 combined tackles, a tackle for loss, four pass breakups, two quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks and an interception.
The injury, though, is not just the one that ended his afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys. Health problems have already interrupted half of Cisse's starts this season, and he has dealt with neck, shoulder and hip concerns along the way. That is why the Packers' decision to keep him limited throughout the week carried weight even with his expectation that he will line up Sunday.
There is still a practical question underneath the optimism. An expected start does not always mean a full workload, especially for a player coming off multiple interruptions, and Cisse's status could still be monitored as kickoff approaches. Green Bay will have to sort that out against a Detroit offense averaging nearly 394 yards per game, with the Lions entering as three-point home favorites coming off a bye and the over-under set around 53.5 points. The Packers also hope the return of Josh Jacobs can help a struggling rushing attack, but Cisse's availability is the piece that could shape the back end of the defense most directly. Related coverage is here: Cisse Packers expect Brandon Cisse to start after injury scare.
