E-mail
Print
Injury bug is biting
Health issues catching up to Packers
By Ken Ryan
It’s obviously no coincidence that the teams playing deep into January are the healthiest.
After a virtually injury-free 2007 campaign, the Green Bay Packers find themselves with numerous health concerns that are putting a major strain on the overall depth of the roster.
A year ago, the Packers only lost two players, defensive tackles Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole, to season-ending injuries. A handful of others missed stretches of time, but none that were of any real significance.
But in 2008, that trend has already changed dramatically.
Cornerback Al Harris, a Pro-Bowler in 2007, appears to be out for the season with an apparently ruptured spleen. That means second-year Tramon Williams will be bumped to the starting role, opposite to the outstanding Charles Woodson, who is playing with a toe injury.
Safety Atari Bigby missed the Dallas game with a hamstring injury and was sorely missed in run support.
Defensive tackle Justin Harrell is on the Physically Unable to Perform list (out six weeks) with a lower-back problem. While Harrell has been a non-factor after being a first round pick in April 2007, the Packers need warm bodies to help with depth on defensive line.
Center Scott Wells has missed the first three games with a lower back injury, creating a ripple-down effect that has bumped starting guard Jason Spitz to the center position.
Rookie right guard Josh Sitton was right in the mix of the starting guard battle, but a knee injury shot down any chances of him cracking the starting lineup, although his return is imminent. Backup receivers James Jones and Ruvell Martin have been battling nagging knee and finger injuries, respectively.
And finally, running back Ryan Grant still is not all the way back after a training camp hamstring injury left the $30-million-man at less than 100 percent.
While General Manager Ted Thompson has built the roster up in many areas to prepare for this situation, not many teams are built to beat the league’s heavyweights with their best punchers on the sidelines.
Without question, losing Harris is a major blow to the secondary. It will be interesting to see if the Packers significantly alter the scheme to give Williams safety help and what the ripple effect might be.
It’s obviously no coincidence that the teams playing deep into January are the healthiest. There’s a lot of time between now and then for these nicks and bruises to subside, but then again, it could continue to go downhill.
If the Packers can somehow persevere through this tough stretch and can get to the bye at 5-2, things will be looking great.
But they will not get there and proceed without their best guns.
> Comments