FROM USA TODAY:
Packers WR Ferguson reinjures knee in practice
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — One day after returning to practice from a knee injury, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Robert Ferguson was carted off the field near the end of practice Friday after injuring the same knee. Ferguson missed the last three games after suffering a torn lateral-collateral ligament in his left knee during a 23-20 loss at Minnesota Oct. 23.
Team spokesman Aaron Popkey said late Friday afternoon that Ferguson would be evaluated further Saturday.
Coach Mike Sherman, who wasn't made available to reporters Friday, will update Ferguson's status during his scheduled news conference after practice Saturday.
"It's just bad luck. There's nothing we can do about it," receiver Donald Driver said of the spate of injuries to offensive players this season. "How do you get good luck? Do you need to do something, give somebody a gift or something? I don't know. But, right now, it just seems like it's not going our way."
Ferguson returned to practice on a full-time basis Thursday and declared himself ready to resume playing Monday night, when the Packers (2-7) host the Vikings (4-5) in the rematch of NFC North rivals. He was listed as questionable for the game before Friday's incident.
"It was almost at the end (of practice)," receiver Antonio Chatman said. "That's what makes it even worse. We had only like two more plays left. It was a freak accident. It's crazy."
Ferguson was taken by cart from the practice facility across the street to the Lambeau Field training room to have the knee examined by the medical staff. Ferguson was downcast, with his head lowered, as the cart passed reporters waiting outside the locker-room area after practice.
According to Chatman and accounts from other players, Ferguson sustained the injury while running a deep go route along the sideline.
Chatman said quarterback Brett Favre overthrew Ferguson, and Ferguson was pulling up but rookie safety Nick Collins didn't see the ball and bumped Ferguson, whose knee buckled.
Collins had little to say about the contact with Ferguson.
"Accidents occur at practice. That's all it was, an accident," Collins said before leaving the locker room.
Since Pro Bowl receiver Javon Walker sustained a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee in the season-opening loss at Detroit on Sept. 11, it's been one serious injury after another for the Packers offense. Ferguson had filled the starting void for Walker until suffering his initial knee injury.
Promising rookie receiver Terrence Murphy also was lost for the rest of the season because of a spinal-cord bruise sustained in Week 4.
Then, in back-to-back games last month, No. 2 running back Najeh Davenport (broken ankle) and Pro Bowl running back Ahman Green (torn thigh tendon) sustained injuries that knocked them out for the balance of the season.
Running back Tony Fisher, who had been elevated from third string to starter after Davenport and Green were hurt, has missed the past two games with a broken rib. Fisher returned to practice Thursday and expects to play Monday.
While Fisher was out, undrafted rookie Samkon Gado emerged as the fifth starting running back of the season and earned NFC offensive player of the week honors after a 25-carry, 103-yard, three-touchdown performance in the 33-25 upset at Atlanta last Sunday.
Also, Pro Bowl tight end Bubba Franks missed about three games earlier in the season because of a knee injury. Top backup David Martin has been sidelined the past three games because of a strained groin. He, too, returned to practice this week and is expected to play Monday.
The rash of injuries has taken a mental toll on the players as they try to wage a late-season push and make a run at a fourth straight NFC North title. The last-place Packers trail front-runner Chicago by four games.
"It's almost like you're praying every day that nobody else goes down; (but) it's like you almost expect somebody to go down because people are getting hurt so much," said Chatman, who has started the past three games in Ferguson's place. "It's like you can't shake this hurtin' bug right now. Everybody just keeps dropping like flies."
Ferguson had his season cut short last year, missing the last three games, after he sustained head and neck injuries from a clothesline hit by Jacksonville safety Donovin Darius on Dec. 19. Ferguson was temporarily paralyzed after the hit.
NOTES: Linebacker Robert Thomas (quadriceps), cornerback Michael Hawkins (ankle) and defensive tackle Corey Williams (calf) didn't practice Friday. Thomas has yet to practice this week and is questionable to play Monday. Hawkins, who practiced Thursday, also is questionable. Williams has been sidelined since suffering his injury Nov. 6 and is doubtful for Monday. ... Nose tackle Grady Jackson returned to practice after being rested Thursday.
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