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Franks likely to miss post-bye Denver game
By Rob Demovsky
Even though the Green Bay Packers have their bye this week and an extra day the following week before their next game, tight end Bubba Franks probably won’t be ready for the Monday night game at Denver on Oct. 29.
The injury to Franks’ right knee was classified as a sprain on Monday by coach Mike McCarthy, meaning it’ll likely be a two- to four-week injury. Franks was scheduled to undergo additional medical tests, but initial indications were it’s not a season-ending injury.
Regardless, it’s a significant setback for a team that has only two tight ends on the 53-man roster and has relied heavily on a passing game that at times has featured a two-tight end formation and the new-fangled two-tight end, three-receiver look.
Despite Franks’ injury, the Packers don’t plan to scrap their multiple tight-end scheme. The Packers are expected to elevate tight end Ryan Krause from their practice squad, mostly likely after this weekend’s bye. If Franks’ injury isn’t season-ending, General Manager Ted Thompson will have to find another roster spot for Krause.
“As long as you’ve got two tight ends and three receivers healthy, it’s up,” tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said, referring to the multiple tight-end scheme.
Franks was injured on the third-quarter play in which he caught a pass in the back of the end zone but was ruled out of bounds. He stayed on the field for the next snap, a third-and-goal play from the 8-yard line in which Brett Favre was sacked, but then limped off the field.
Franks appeared to have bounced back from the worst season of his pro career, during which he caught only 25 passes for 232 yards and failed to catch a touchdown pass for the first time in seven seasons. Though he was demoted to the No. 2 tight end behind Donald Lee, Franks has 14 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns through six games.
“Bubba’s been very solid,” McAdoo said. “He got off to a great start. He’s blocking well, doing a great job in protection. He’s catching the ball and being aggressive with his hands, plucking it out of the air. His route running has improved. He was in good shape and was playing well.”
Lee, who ranks third on the team with 22 receptions for 270 yards, played the rest of the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter as the only tight end. When asked if he has to be careful not to overuse Lee, McCarthy said: “I don’t know how you can.”
“We’ve talked about only carrying two tight ends, and how much productivity do you want to get out of the tight ends,” McCarthy added. “The most important statistic in my view about the tight end position was that they all played 16 games. Now Bubba has his injury, so you need to adjust. I’m very, very pleased with the way the tight end position has performed. Now Krause has to step in if it’s his opportunity, and we’ll just make sure we put him in positions to be successful.”
Krause played in five NFL games in the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the San Diego Chargers. The Packers have another tight end, James Adkisson, on their practice squad. He has played in three career games for the Oakland Raiders in 2005 and 2006 and was signed by the Packers on Oct. 3.
By Rob Demovsky
Even though the Green Bay Packers have their bye this week and an extra day the following week before their next game, tight end Bubba Franks probably won’t be ready for the Monday night game at Denver on Oct. 29.
The injury to Franks’ right knee was classified as a sprain on Monday by coach Mike McCarthy, meaning it’ll likely be a two- to four-week injury. Franks was scheduled to undergo additional medical tests, but initial indications were it’s not a season-ending injury.
Regardless, it’s a significant setback for a team that has only two tight ends on the 53-man roster and has relied heavily on a passing game that at times has featured a two-tight end formation and the new-fangled two-tight end, three-receiver look.
Despite Franks’ injury, the Packers don’t plan to scrap their multiple tight-end scheme. The Packers are expected to elevate tight end Ryan Krause from their practice squad, mostly likely after this weekend’s bye. If Franks’ injury isn’t season-ending, General Manager Ted Thompson will have to find another roster spot for Krause.
“As long as you’ve got two tight ends and three receivers healthy, it’s up,” tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said, referring to the multiple tight-end scheme.
Franks was injured on the third-quarter play in which he caught a pass in the back of the end zone but was ruled out of bounds. He stayed on the field for the next snap, a third-and-goal play from the 8-yard line in which Brett Favre was sacked, but then limped off the field.
Franks appeared to have bounced back from the worst season of his pro career, during which he caught only 25 passes for 232 yards and failed to catch a touchdown pass for the first time in seven seasons. Though he was demoted to the No. 2 tight end behind Donald Lee, Franks has 14 catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns through six games.
“Bubba’s been very solid,” McAdoo said. “He got off to a great start. He’s blocking well, doing a great job in protection. He’s catching the ball and being aggressive with his hands, plucking it out of the air. His route running has improved. He was in good shape and was playing well.”
Lee, who ranks third on the team with 22 receptions for 270 yards, played the rest of the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter as the only tight end. When asked if he has to be careful not to overuse Lee, McCarthy said: “I don’t know how you can.”
“We’ve talked about only carrying two tight ends, and how much productivity do you want to get out of the tight ends,” McCarthy added. “The most important statistic in my view about the tight end position was that they all played 16 games. Now Bubba has his injury, so you need to adjust. I’m very, very pleased with the way the tight end position has performed. Now Krause has to step in if it’s his opportunity, and we’ll just make sure we put him in positions to be successful.”
Krause played in five NFL games in the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the San Diego Chargers. The Packers have another tight end, James Adkisson, on their practice squad. He has played in three career games for the Oakland Raiders in 2005 and 2006 and was signed by the Packers on Oct. 3.
