 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training Camp Report: Injured Look To Heal Up
by Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 08/24/2008
The word of the week on the injury front for the Green Bay Packers is caution.
With one preseason game remaining on Thursday, the Packers have several banged up players who, were this the regular season, would have at least a chance of playing. But essentially anyone hurt and in need of some recovery time is being held out this week by the coaching staff, with the goal of getting the team much healthier for the season opener vs. Minnesota on Sept. 8.
Aside from the situation on the offensive line, the walking-but-not-seriously-wounded for the Packers this week includes safety Atari Bigby (sprained ankle), cornerback Charles Woodson (bruised knee), receiver James Jones (sprained knee) and defensive tackle Johnny Jolly (hip flexor). All those players were injured in last Friday's game in Denver and will look to get healthy for the start of the regular season.
A couple of other players hurt in the Denver game - linebacker Brandon Chillar and defensive end Cullen Jenkins - have what Head Coach Mike McCarthy termed very minor injuries (Chillar's is his lower back), and both could return to practice this week. But as for Thursday's game against Tennessee, again the word is caution.
As for some of the ongoing injuries, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, who has missed all of training camp with a bad hamstring, is getting closer to returning and could possibly get back on the field by the end of the week.
"He had a very good week last week," McCarthy said. "He was not able to pass the second day of testing to get out here this week. I'm hopeful he's going to be a late addition for this week and hopefully for sure next week."
Meanwhile linebacker A.J. Hawk (chest) is responding well in rehab and is targeting the season opener as a possible return.
"He's progressing very nicely," McCarthy said. "He's getting his strength and everything back. We will not play him this week, and we're hopeful he'll be ready for Minnesota also."
Back at it
Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and running backs Ryan Grant and DeShawn Wynn have returned to practice and are expected to see their first game action of the preseason on Thursday.
Grant said he didn't know how much he was going to play, but he's going to prepare as though it's the regular season and he's playing the whole game. More than anything, Grant - who practiced only two days before going out with a hamstring injury - needs to get some rust knocked off by getting, well, knocked around a bit.
"A couple guys on the team were laughing about it, saying on the first play they were just going to let the whole defense run in and tackle me one time," Grant said. "I hope that doesn't happen, but I wouldn't mind getting hit, just to get back in the swing of things."
Wynn hasn't played since the preseason opener against Cincinnati because of an ankle injury, and has an uphill battle to earn a backup halfback job. He's battling with Vernand Morency, Noah Herron and Kregg Lumpkin, all of whom have had their share of playing time in the preseason thus far.
"It's real important just to show what I can do," Wynn said. "As far as making the team, that's not really what I'm focused on. I just want to go out there and make a good impression. Having missed two preseason games and not being in action for a while, I'm just looking to show the coaches something."
Lots of snaps
With the starters expected to play only a series or two on Thursday, backup quarterbacks Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn should get their most extensive action of the preseason.
| Advertisement |
|
 |
|
Brohm still holds the edge for the No. 2 job, but in his first three appearances he is just 12-of-30 for 103 yards with one interception, on his first pass in the opening game. Last Friday in Denver with limited playing time, Brohm attempted just four passes, and didn't complete any.
"Of course it has been a little bit frustrating," Brohm said. "I haven't really gotten into a good rhythm in any of the games. Hopefully this last game, getting some more playing time, I'll be able to get in a nice rhythm and get some things going."
Brohm has yet to lead the offense to a score in the preseason, but he's hoping to break that shutout against the Titans.
"It's definitely important to go out there this week and get the team in the end zone," Brohm said. "That's the ultimate goal. That's what the quarterback needs to do is lead the team down the field and score touchdowns. Hopefully we can get that accomplished this week."
With Tennessee expected to play its starters through at least the first half and possibly into the third quarter, Brohm and/or Flynn may have to direct the offense against some of the Titans' top defenders. That will present a significant challenge, but a valuable training opportunity as well.
"I need to get them as many reps as possible and give them some opportunities, not only in the run game, but also in the passing game," said McCarthy, who plans to split Brohm's and Flynn's playing time equally this week. "I want them both to take a step forward. They'll be in an excellent competing opportunity with the Tennessee Titans coming in here as far as their format for the game." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
