New challenges await Packers’ defense as it keeps…

GREEN BAY – Nothing is getting easier for the Packers’ stalwart defense.

At the moment, that statement has very little to do with the fact that Green Bay’s next two opponents are a Vikings offense that just scored 27 points on the road, followed by a Rams offense featuring Matthew Stafford-Cooper Kupp-OBJ over Thanksgiving weekend.

Those tasks will be tough enough, but now after surviving through October and early November with a depleted cornerback position, it’s edge rusher that’s suddenly really hurting.

First Whitney Mercilus (biceps) and then Rashan Gary (elbow) left Sunday’s 17-0 victory over Seattle, and while Head Coach Matt LaFleur had no postgame updates, television replays showed painful injuries that don’t lend themselves to an immediate return to action.

Time will tell just where things stand, but the Packers finished Sunday’s shutout with just Preston Smith and Jonathan Garvin as the only true outside linebackers available.

Oren Burks has played there some and will probably be called upon at least in the short term, but the only other option currently in house is practice-squad member Tipa Galeai.

That’s as thin as it gets, especially at such a crucial position.

“That’s going to be another challenge we have to take on,” LaFleur said. “We’re going to have to get back to that grind starting tomorrow.”

The Packers are hoping to get Za’Darius Smith (back injury) back at some point, but that’s still down the road a bit.

So just as the defense weathered a storm at cornerback that saw Jaire Alexander and Kevin King go down in back-to-back weeks, and then rookie Eric Stokes not make it through warmups last week at Kansas City, the pass rush will have to lean on other players and other ways to get the job done.

The signing of Rasul Douglas helped stem the tide at corner, and his abilities proved pivotal for a position group that now has King and Stokes back, with Alexander still a maybe at some point.

Based on his MO this season, GM Brian Gutekunst will sign another edge rusher if there’s one worth bringing in. The Packers also will trust their structure and process that have gotten the defense’s arrow to continue pointing up despite all the health setbacks.

“That is the expectation, that’s the standard,” LaFleur said of the minimal drop-off when key players have been sidelined. He admitted there’s some coach-speak ingrained within that, but “nobody really cares at the end of the day how you get it done or who’s in there.”