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Packers: Running out of options
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
[email protected]
GREEN BAY - How muddled is the Green Bay Packers' running back situation one week from the start of the regular season? Let Ted Thompson count the ways - or at least healthy possibilities.
After getting more bad news about the health of one of his running backs - third-down back Noah Herron, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve Sunday following arthroscopic knee surgery - the Packers general manager was asked how many healthy running backs he thought he would have for next Sunday's regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field.
''We've had so many changes, I've got to think this through. ...'' Thompson said. Then, he began counting, ''One ... two ...''
The truth is, at this point, the Packers simply don't know.
Vernand Morency, who came into camp atop the depth chart but suffered a strained patellar tendon in his right knee in the July 28 camp-opening practice, took part in the jog-through and individual drills during Sunday's practice, but how much he'll be able to do against the Eagles is unclear.
Rookie second-round pick Brandon Jackson, who started the first three preseason games before missing the finale with a concussion suffered in practice Aug. 26, was fully cleared and went through all of Sunday's practice, proclaiming himself ready to start afterward.
Rookie seventh-round pick DeShawn Wynn, who missed most of camp with a thigh injury but came back to play in the preseason finale at Tennessee last Thursday, made the roster but got a stern warning not to get comfortable.
And Ryan Grant, acquired in a trade with the New York Giants during Saturday's final cuts, arrived and practiced but has a lot of catching up to do.
''We have a plan,'' Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. ''We will use them in combination. We've talked about (running back by) committee from day one. It's now time to put the committee into play.''
At this point, Jackson appears likely to start against the Eagles, while McCarthy should know more about Morency's status after the team practices today and Wednesday.
''I'm feeling better,'' said Jackson, who rushed for 131 yards on 40 carries during the preseason. ''It was nice to get out there and run around and practice, basically. I would love to start, I would love to take the reps, but I feel like that's up to Coach.''
Herron suffered his knee injury during Thursday night's preseason finale - a game he started with Morency and Jackson out - but neither Herron nor the team thought it was serious at the time. Then, when team physician Pat McKenzie performed arthroscopic surgery on the knee Saturday, further damage was discovered.
Thompson wouldn't divulge the specifics of the damage but said the doctors ''didn't think there was any way we'd get him back before the bye, and we just didn't have the luxury of being able to do that.'' The Packers' bye week is Oct. 21, after six games, meaning Herron likely tore the MCL and meniscus in his knee.
''That put us in a real bind,'' Thompson said.
Thompson said he expects Morency to be cleared to play against the Eagles, but Morency was guarded about whether he'll be ready to go.
''Because Noah got hurt, that doesn't mean my knee got better,'' Morency said. ''I can't be myself if I'm not able to do the things they brought me in to do. I'm working hard. I can tell you that. I'm trying to get out there as soon as possible.''
Grant, who finished the preseason with 90 yards on 18 carries with the Giants, arrived in time to practice with the Packers on Sunday and spent much of the day with running backs coach Edgar Bennett trying to learn the offense.
''Hopefully, it's not too much of a crash course. I feel like I can pick up things pretty quickly,'' said Grant, whom the Packers acquired for a future draft pick - one that Thompson said is not conditional, meaning they'll have to send it to the Giants regardless of how many games Grant plays. ''They threw me in the fire in practice, and I told them, 'Don't worry about me getting burned. That's how I've got to learn.'''
Wynn, meanwhile, said Thompson and McCarthy made it clear to him that his roster spot is tenuous.
''Basically, (they said) I've got to prove myself and work hard, and if they see any decline in my work ethic or my mentality, I probably won't be here long,'' said Wynn, who rushed 21 times for 54 yards against Tennessee. ''Some people may feel like I don't deserve to be on the 53-man roster. The message is pretty much to earn my keep.''
While the position would appear just as clouded as it was entering camp, Thompson maintained the stance he's held throughout: He's not concerned.
''We don't worry about things like that,'' Thompson said. ''It is what it is. Everybody has injuries and we've had our share at that position during training camp, but time marches on, so you have to keep going at it.
''We'd have liked for our whole group to be able to compete from day one, and we felt like we'd have a pretty good group at the end of it. That didn't happen. But at the end of the day, we feel pretty good about this group.''
Packers: Running out of options
By JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
[email protected]
GREEN BAY - How muddled is the Green Bay Packers' running back situation one week from the start of the regular season? Let Ted Thompson count the ways - or at least healthy possibilities.
After getting more bad news about the health of one of his running backs - third-down back Noah Herron, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve Sunday following arthroscopic knee surgery - the Packers general manager was asked how many healthy running backs he thought he would have for next Sunday's regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lambeau Field.
''We've had so many changes, I've got to think this through. ...'' Thompson said. Then, he began counting, ''One ... two ...''
The truth is, at this point, the Packers simply don't know.
Vernand Morency, who came into camp atop the depth chart but suffered a strained patellar tendon in his right knee in the July 28 camp-opening practice, took part in the jog-through and individual drills during Sunday's practice, but how much he'll be able to do against the Eagles is unclear.
Rookie second-round pick Brandon Jackson, who started the first three preseason games before missing the finale with a concussion suffered in practice Aug. 26, was fully cleared and went through all of Sunday's practice, proclaiming himself ready to start afterward.
Rookie seventh-round pick DeShawn Wynn, who missed most of camp with a thigh injury but came back to play in the preseason finale at Tennessee last Thursday, made the roster but got a stern warning not to get comfortable.
And Ryan Grant, acquired in a trade with the New York Giants during Saturday's final cuts, arrived and practiced but has a lot of catching up to do.
''We have a plan,'' Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. ''We will use them in combination. We've talked about (running back by) committee from day one. It's now time to put the committee into play.''
At this point, Jackson appears likely to start against the Eagles, while McCarthy should know more about Morency's status after the team practices today and Wednesday.
''I'm feeling better,'' said Jackson, who rushed for 131 yards on 40 carries during the preseason. ''It was nice to get out there and run around and practice, basically. I would love to start, I would love to take the reps, but I feel like that's up to Coach.''
Herron suffered his knee injury during Thursday night's preseason finale - a game he started with Morency and Jackson out - but neither Herron nor the team thought it was serious at the time. Then, when team physician Pat McKenzie performed arthroscopic surgery on the knee Saturday, further damage was discovered.
Thompson wouldn't divulge the specifics of the damage but said the doctors ''didn't think there was any way we'd get him back before the bye, and we just didn't have the luxury of being able to do that.'' The Packers' bye week is Oct. 21, after six games, meaning Herron likely tore the MCL and meniscus in his knee.
''That put us in a real bind,'' Thompson said.
Thompson said he expects Morency to be cleared to play against the Eagles, but Morency was guarded about whether he'll be ready to go.
''Because Noah got hurt, that doesn't mean my knee got better,'' Morency said. ''I can't be myself if I'm not able to do the things they brought me in to do. I'm working hard. I can tell you that. I'm trying to get out there as soon as possible.''
Grant, who finished the preseason with 90 yards on 18 carries with the Giants, arrived in time to practice with the Packers on Sunday and spent much of the day with running backs coach Edgar Bennett trying to learn the offense.
''Hopefully, it's not too much of a crash course. I feel like I can pick up things pretty quickly,'' said Grant, whom the Packers acquired for a future draft pick - one that Thompson said is not conditional, meaning they'll have to send it to the Giants regardless of how many games Grant plays. ''They threw me in the fire in practice, and I told them, 'Don't worry about me getting burned. That's how I've got to learn.'''
Wynn, meanwhile, said Thompson and McCarthy made it clear to him that his roster spot is tenuous.
''Basically, (they said) I've got to prove myself and work hard, and if they see any decline in my work ethic or my mentality, I probably won't be here long,'' said Wynn, who rushed 21 times for 54 yards against Tennessee. ''Some people may feel like I don't deserve to be on the 53-man roster. The message is pretty much to earn my keep.''
While the position would appear just as clouded as it was entering camp, Thompson maintained the stance he's held throughout: He's not concerned.
''We don't worry about things like that,'' Thompson said. ''It is what it is. Everybody has injuries and we've had our share at that position during training camp, but time marches on, so you have to keep going at it.
''We'd have liked for our whole group to be able to compete from day one, and we felt like we'd have a pretty good group at the end of it. That didn't happen. But at the end of the day, we feel pretty good about this group.''
