The Packer Pundit

In Da News today... Injuries... Injuries... and Injuries

Offense Expects To Bounce Back Vs. Giants
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 09/13/2007
In a week the Packers would like to see their offense bounce back and have a productive game, facing the New York Giants on Sunday could be both good news and bad news. It's good news in the sense that the Giants had a rough defensive outing in their season-opening loss to Dallas, surrendering 478 yards and 48 points. But it's bad news from the standpoint that New York's new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, spent the previous eight seasons as a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles, the same team that came into Lambeau Field last week and held the Packers to just 215 yards, including 46 rushing. "Their defense is very, very similar to Philly," quarterback Brett Favre said. "They're opportunistic, they create confusion. I watched the Dallas game on tape. They gave up some big plays, and that's part of that defense." More >>


Injuries leave options limited
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers could be one injury away from a potentially crippling situation in the passing game Sunday against the New York Giants. No. 2 wide receiver Greg Jennings, who missed last week's win over Philadelphia with a hamstring injury suffered midway through the week of practice, had a setback Thursday when he was limited in practice and his availability is in doubt for Sunday. The status of No. 5 receiver Carlyle Holiday — who, incidentally, also is the Packers' No. 3 emergency quarterback — also is up in the air after he sat out Thursday's practice with knee swelling that developed following the Eagles game. And tight end Donald Lee, one of just two tight ends on the 53-man roster, was added to the injury report with a knee injury that limited his participation in practice Thursday. Put it together, and the Packers essentially have four healthy pass-catchers: No. 1 receiver Donald Driver, who is just two weeks removed from a scary right foot injury; No. 3 receiver James Jones, who pinch-hit for Jennings as a starter last week; No. 4 receiver Ruvell Martin, who moved up to fill Jones' No. 3 spot against the Eagles; and tight end Bubba Franks. "Our receiver and third quarterback situation (are) not where you want (them) to be," Packers coach Mike McCarthy admitted. "But Brett (Favre) has played more games than anyone in history, so I'm going to play the odds there. I'm not as concerned about the third quarterback as I should, but the wide receiver depth is a concern." If Jennings can't play or dresses and aggravates the hamstring injury, McCarthy said the Packers would be "one play away from being out of some personnel groups, and that's what you try to avoid in gameplanning. That's the reality of where we would be." McCarthy said Jennings was "a little sore. He looked really good (Wednesday), but he was a little sore (Thursday)." Added offensive coordinator Joe Philbin: "We're confident that the guys we put out there are going to do a good job for us. We've just got to give it a little time and figure out where we're at the end of the week. There's nothing you can do right now to worry about those things. The situation is what it is, and we'll just do the best with what we're dealt with."

Return to sender
With Will Blackmon's broken thumb still healing, special teams coordinator Mike Stock said he'll use the same setup this week on returns: Cornerback Tramon Williams and running back DeShawn Wynn on kickoffs and cornerback Charles Woodson on punts. Stock said that despite cornerback Al Harris suffering an elbow injury while blocking last Sunday, he has no intention of taking Woodson off punt returns. "And he wouldn't want to be taken out, I know that," Stock said. Stock said Williams, who made the roster as the 10th defensive back, has done a "good job so far," especially since he'd only returned a handful of kicks in college. "I like doing it. It gives you a chance to make a play, you know?" Williams said. "(When) you're out here as a free agent, trying to make a team, you need to be trying to do everything you can do to showcase your talent. That's all I tried to do. I was happy they put me back there, and they trust me, so that's a good thing."

Extra points
A league source said suspended wide receiver Koren Robinson has filed the necessary paperwork for reinstatement, but he won't be eligible to return until Oct. 17, the one-year anniversary of his suspension. Robinson was originally found in volation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy Sept. 18, 2006, and a league spokesman said in July that Robinson would be eligible for reinstatement on that date. That proved to be incorrect. Safety Nick Collins returned to practice after being excused from Wednesday's workout for personal reasons. Right guard Jason Spitz (calf) returned to practice on a limited basis but Junius Coston appears likely to start in his place. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said a decision would be made on Saturday on the starter. Harris was limited but will play. Defensive end Aaron Kampman (oblique) returned to practice on a limited basis but said he'll play. Story Link >>



More pain for Morency
By JASON WILDE / madison.com
GREEN BAY — Vernand Morency's comeback bid has stalled. Again. The Green Bay Packers would-be starting halfback, out since July 28 when he suffered a strained patellar tendon in his right knee during the first practice of training camp, had another setback Thursday, when he was unable to make it through practice after seeing his most extensive practice time a day earlier. So while Packers coach Mike McCarthy wouldn't rule Morency out for Sunday's game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, expect to see rookie second-round pick Brandon Jackson make his second straight start, backed up by rookie seventh-round pick DeShawn Wynn and ex-Giant Ryan Grant. More >>



Lorenzen could present big challenge
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
GREEN BAY -- His nicknames are "The Pillsbury Throw-Boy" and "The Hefty Lefty." But if the New York Giants' Jared Lorenzen starts Sunday's game in place of Eli Manning, who has a bruised right shoulder, the Green Bay Packers won 't be cracking jokes about the 6-foot-4, 285-pound backup quarterback. Well, maybe one or two. Lorenzen's own teammates might as well. "I'm not much for wearing rib-pads myself, but if you're 280, you've got a little added protection," Packers quarterback Brett Favre said. Said Giants defensive end Michael Strahan: "I'm just glad I don't have to hit him. He'd probably hurt me. It's a little strange to look at a quarterback who's about 290. I can say that. But he is very athletic, he can throw the heck out of the ball. I guess when you're 290 pounds you have a lot to put behind it." More >>



Packers' Grant a mirror image
Back conjures up images of Levens
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 13, 2007
Green Bay - It isn't the reason the Green Bay Packers traded a sixth-round pick for a former undrafted free agent without a single play of experience in the National Football League, but Ryan Grant's resemblance to a certain former Packer certainly hasn't gone unnoticed around here. Asked if he picked up on the similarity the first time he saw Grant, running backs coach Edgar Bennett spit out a replay before the question was even completed. "Dorsey Levens," Bennett said. "In fact, I told him, 'You're wearing 25 but you also kind of favor the guy that used to wear 25. Don't have Dorsey call me to get on you because you're not doing what you're supposed to be doing." More >>