Packers kicker Brandon McManus still hasn’t kicked practice this week

GREEN BAY – After sitting out practice during his scheduled Wednesday kicking day, Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus won’t test his injured right thigh until Friday.

Coach Matt LaFleur said McManus was day-to-day, but when asked if the plan was to rest McManus until game time or the day before, he said it depends on how the veteran feels.

“Would I like to see someone kick throughout the week? Absolutely,” LaFleur said before practice Oct. 16. “But I also know he’s done it for a long time, and so I think veteran players are going to have a longer leash in regards to where they feel they’re at, whether they feel like they can go out there and get the job done.”

McManus’ normal kicking days are Wednesday and Friday. He may do some kicking inside the Don Hutson Center on other days, but kicking every day in practice would probably put undue strain on any kicker’s leg.

The Packers signed Lucas Havrisik after McManus felt tightness in his thigh during practice Oct. 9 and he wound up doing all the kicking after McManus continued to feel discomfort during warmups before the Cincinnati game Oct. 12. Havrisik connected on both of his field goal attempts and three extra points in the 27-18 victory.

“I thought Luke did a great job coming in, stepping in, and in a tough situation, did the job,” LaFleur said. “So, we feel comfortable with that as well.”

The Packers can afford to keep two kickers on the 53-man roster because they were at 51 players when they signed Havrisik.

Here are other topics LaFleur addressed in his news conference:

LaFleur playing coy on whether receiver Christian Watson will play this week

One of the spots the Packers are keeping open on the roster is for receiver Christian Watson, who is in the middle of a three-week window in which he can practice without counting against the roster limit. Watson is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year and started the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list after missing all of training camp.

The Packers opened his practice window Oct. 6 and have worked him in all five practices since then. The workout Oct. 16 would be his sixth and second in full pads.

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Asked if the plan was to play Watson this week, LaFleur said, “We’ll see.”

As for how Watson has looked, LaFleur didn’t hold back.

“He looks great,” he said. “It’s just trying to build up to where we feel comfortable for him to go out there, and also where he feels like he’s got in enough practice as well.”

Micah Parsons’ impact showing in more than sacks, LaFleur says

LaFleur said that regardless of statistics, edge rusher Micah Parsons is helping the defense. He said opposing quarterbacks are getting rid of the ball quickly, which has resulted in the Packers not giving up a pass play longer than 34 yards and managing just 12 sacks.

“I think that he’s been very impactful,” he said. “I think the way teams scheme against us, it’s pretty obvious what they’re trying to do. I mean, there’s some instances there’s an O-lineman, tight end and back where he is. That’s great for the other guys.

“Now those other guys have got to win their one-on-one opportunities. And then based on the coverage and concept kind of dictates how fast the ball is going to get out of the quarterback’s hand.”