Randall Cobb Injury: Updates on Packers Star's Shoulder and Return

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb left the team's 39-26 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 29 with a shoulder injury. ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky said Cobb attempted to make a catch on Green Bay's first pass of the contest and came down with his "right arm hanging."

The wideout was diagnosed with an AC joint sprain, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. He will play in the team's regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears, the Packers announced Sunday, though Cobb remained limited in practice Thursday, per Demovsky. The wideout was listed Friday as probable for Sunday's game, per Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

"Cobb will play today, but not 100 [percent]. Likely to wear extra protection on shoulder. Admitted recently still painful, tough to sleep," ESPN's Bob Holtzman reported Sunday.

On Thursday, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel passed along a photo of Cobb at practice:

"I don't plan on missing a game," Cobb said Sept. 1, via Demovsky. "I'm doing everything in my power to get back before then." Cobb also said that his shoulder "definitely is a lot better than what we all thought it was in the beginning."

"He's doing good," McCarthy said Aug. 30. "He's been here [at camp] the whole time."

On Aug. 30, Rapoport reported Cobb's status "could have been much worse."

It will be difficult for Green Bay's explosive passing attack to deal with the loss of Jordy Nelson for the season to a torn ACL. If Cobb has to sit out, the team's depth will be tested even more.

"I just caught the ball and was going down to the ground, and I had a guy land on top of me," Cobb said, via Demovsky. Cobb added:

"

I was just jogging off the field at the end of the series, and I could feel the pain. I didn't know exactly what it was. It was discomfort, and I let Doc check it out and we went back and got X-rays. It's not what we think it could've been.

It's been very unfortunate these few weeks for us. At least there's a silver lining in this injury.

"

The Packers also have a superstar quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, who should be able to continue to make those around him better and keep opposing defenses off balance with his pinpoint accuracy and savvy ball distribution. What Green Bay can't replace are Cobb's unique versatility and playmaking abilities.

Perhaps the Packers will lean more on the ground game for now. Powerful back Eddie Lacy can grind out yards between the tackles and wear down defenses to complement what's always going to be a dangerous offense with Rodgers at the helm.

This injury is nevertheless discouraging, since Cobb had been sidelined for much of 2013 with a broken leg before thriving in a contract year to net a lucrative free-agent payday that kept him in Green Bay.