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 Cobb suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, NFL Media Insider
Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. While the injury is considered minor,
there is no word on whether Cobb will be ready to play in Week 1.
A week after losing No. 1 wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the season
with a torn ACL on the first drive of a game, Cobb left Saturday's
game against the Philadelphia Eagles after three plays with an
injury that he thought would knock him out for an extended period of
time.
"I just caught the ball and was going down to the ground, and I had
a guy land on top of me," Cobb said after the 39-26 loss to the
Eagles. "I was just jogging off the field at the end of the series,
and I could feel the pain. I didn't know exactly what it was. It was
discomfort, and I let Doc check it out and we went back and got
X-rays. It's not what we think it could've been."
Cobb appeared to land on his right side while attempting to catch a
pass from quarterback Brett Hundley along the sideline. He was taken
to the Lambeau Field locker room for further examination.
Last season, Cobb caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns
-- second on the team to Nelson, who had 98 catches for 1,519 yards
and 13 touchdowns.
"It's been very unfortunate these few weeks for us," Cobb said. "At
least there's a silver lining in this injury."
Cobb wouldn't speculate whether he will be available for the Sept.
13 season opener at Chicago against the Bears.
"You know, we're taking it day by day right now," Cobb said. "We'll
see come tomorrow what more we find out, and we'll go from there."
--Now that receiver Jordy Nelson's eighth NFL season is over before
it even started, what can the Packers realistically expect in the
season ahead?
Plenty of good, teammates and head coach Mike McCarthy insisted
Tuesday as the Packers returned to the field with one of their most
indispensable players conspicuously missing practice.
The distressing news came down Monday that Nelson would miss the
entire season because of a torn ACL in his right knee sustained a
day earlier in the Packers' 24-19 preseason loss at the Pittsburgh
Steelers.
However, no one, including Nelson, was kissing the team's lofty
aspirations of a Super Bowl title goodbye.
"It's a tough blow to our football team, but as we spoke in the team
meeting (Tuesday), nothing's changed," McCarthy said. "Our goal
hasn't changed. When things like this happen, a good system with a
good football team, adjustments are made. So, we will adjust and
keep moving."
As Nelson awaits surgery at an undetermined date after the swelling
in the knee dissipates and sets his personal sights on being good to
go again by next summer, he isn't fretting how the offense will pick
up the slack.
"I think in past years we've been a lot of pass-game heavy based on
what we had," said Nelson, who spoke in the team's locker room after
practice Tuesday. "So, I think (running backs) Eddie (Lacy) and
James (Starks) will be a huge factor there.
"But, it's what these young guys will do," Nelson, the elder
statesman of the group at age 30, said about his fellow wideouts.
"It's going to be a great opportunity for them. It's going to be a
lot of work for them, but they'll put it in. (Quarterback) Aaron
(Rodgers) will put the work in with them, and they'll have a great
opportunity. It will be fun to go out there and watch them make the
most of that opportunity and do as well as they can."
Football life without Nelson for the Packers started in earnest
Tuesday.
Fifth-year pro Randall Cobb, who turned 25 on Saturday, now is the
senior member of the receiving corps. Last season's first-time
Pro-Bowl honoree has assumed the No. 1 distinction in the pecking
order at the position, which has suddenly elevated second-year
player Davante Adams and rookie Ty Montgomery into the Nos. 2 and 3
roles, respectively.
"You can't replace Jordy Nelson," Cobb acknowledged. "He's an
unbelievable player, the things he's been able to accomplish over
his career and, obviously, last season the numbers he put up. It's
going to be really a challenge for us as a group to try to make up
where ends meet."
Beyond Cobb's career highs of 91 catches for 1,287 yards and 12
touchdowns last season, the combined NFL production of 40 catches
for 462 yards and three touchdowns by Adams, Montgomery and
returning second-year pro Jeff Janis pales greatly in comparison to
Nelson's 98 receptions for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns last
season.
"They just have to step up," Cobb said. "At the end of the day,
there's an opportunity for these young guys to get on the field
more, to be able to work with Aaron more, to grow his trust, and
that's the most important thing right now."
Along with the huge numbers that can't be replaced as Rodgers'
trusted playmaker, particularly on deep shots, Nelson's permanent
absence in the season ahead will impact how the Packers planned to
utilize what was shaping up to be another deep cast of receivers.
The 5-foot-10 Cobb has long excelled in the slot, so McCarthy and
first-year play-caller Tom Clements won't be too eager to mess with
a good thing.
However, instead of easing Montgomery in as a pro with a situational
role predominantly on the inside as well, the 6-foot third-round
draft pick out of Stanford figures to be mostly flanked outside with
Adams. At just 6-foot-1, Adams becomes the tallest of Green Bay's
primary receivers with the 6-foot-3 Nelson out of the picture.
The Packers' reliance on multi-receiver looks also could mean a
larger role for 6-foot-4 tight end Richard Rodgers to be split out.
"You've got to have complete players, guys that know the full
concept and can get out there and play wherever," said Adams, who
came on at the end of his rookie season, highlighted by a
seven-catch, 117-yard, one-touchdown performance in the divisional
playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys.
"It's going to get mixed up sometimes," Adams added. "I'll play
inside, Randall will play outside, you never know. It all depends on
what our coaching staff wants and what's best for the team."
-----------------------------------------------
NFL Team Report - Green Bay Packers - NOTES, QUOTES
--Considering the slew of injuries encountered by the Packers in
preseason game No. 2 last weekend, head coach Mike McCarthy may be
rethinking just how vital the team's penultimate exhibition contest
is this weekend.
McCarthy, like many of his brethren, has treated the third outing in
a customary four-game preseason schedule as the true dress rehearsal
for the start of the season.
However, after losing top receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending
torn ACL and seeing a few other starters dinged up in Green Bay's
24-19 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, McCarthy will have
to consider just how long to go with his front-line players Saturday
night. That's when the Packers host the Philadelphia Eagles.
McCarthy hinted Tuesday, when the team returned to the practice
field significantly short-handed on offense, that the starters may
not be long for playing.
When asked about the backup quarterbacks, who could be just rookie
Brett Hundley and second-year pro Matt Blanchard after second-string
Scott Tolzien suffered a concussion Sunday, McCarthy had this to
say:
"This is a huge week for Brett Hundley and Matt and the fact that
they're going to be playing against potentially Philadelphia's
number 1s (on defense). I don't know what (the Eagles') plan is, and
it's irrelevant to what our plan is going to be. But, this is a big,
big week for our young guys on offense. They're going to be playing
against top competition, and this will be great evaluation for us."
In short, starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers as well as a few other
invaluable players may not see action beyond halftime Saturday, if
they're not removed sooner.
Rodgers was outspoken about the amount of preseason games and
exposing front-line players to injury after Sunday's game against
the Steelers.
The reigning NFL MVP said it was tough to lose Nelson to the knee
injury in the opening possession of the game in what Rodgers termed
"a meaningless game."
Rodgers, who was pulled after playing only two series and taking a
hit to his throwing arm that required him to have ice on the wrist
as he watched from the sideline, suggested the league reduce the
preseason schedule to two games for teams.
Although in disbelief about suffering the ACL injury on non-contact
when he landed seemingly fine after making a leaping catch against
the Steelers, Nelson has no regrets about playing preseason football
even after eight years as a pro.
"I think it's just unfortunate," he said Tuesday regarding the
injury. "To some, it might be a meaningless game, and I'm not
disagreeing with what Aaron's saying, but there's a lot of guys in
this locker room that need these games, especially now.
"To some, yes, we don't necessarily need to be out there," Nelson
added. "For others, this is their opportunity to make a team - if
it's our team or another team - so there is meaning to these games."
--The Packers also had starting right guard T.J. Lang leave Sunday's
game with a concussion.
[to top of second column] |
Pro Bowl left guard Josh Sitton joined Lang on the injured list
Tuesday, missing practice with an ankle injury after playing against
the Steelers.
With left tackle David Bakhtiari still sidelined with a knee injury,
Green Bay was left with only right tackle Bryan Bulaga and center
Corey Linsley as its starters on the offensive line.
McCarthy said Bakhtiari is improving but stressed that the
third-year pro's availability for Saturday's game hinges on whether
he can practice Wednesday. The Packers will be off the field
Thursday and have a light workout Friday.
"I wouldn't be comfortable playing him without practice," McCarthy
said of Bakhtiari.
His replacement, Don Barclay, was shaky for the second straight
game. Barclay was at least partly to blame for Steelers linebacker
James Harrison's sack of Rodgers in the end zone for a safety in
Green Bay's second series after Eddie Lacy capped a 10-play, 80-yard
drive to start the game with a seven-yard touchdown run.
Barclay also whiffed on a block that resulted in a hard hit on
Tolzien in the third quarter. Tolzien then exited the game with the
concussion.
Barclay remained at left tackle on the Packers' reconfigured
starting line Tuesday. Though unofficial, the versatile Barclay
played left tackle for the first time in his four-year pro career
Sunday.
"Donnie Barclay needs the work," McCarthy said.
--Green Bay's defense, which has been undermanned with its preferred
starters through the first two exhibition games, had a wave of good
news Tuesday.
Top linebacker Clay Matthews returned to practice. Matthews has yet
to play a preseason game, missing the Aug. 13 win at New England
with knee soreness and then Sunday's contest after being beset by a
sore elbow last week.
"(We're) hoping he can do more. He's progressing," McCarthy said of
Matthews' outlook for this week.
Defensive end Mike Daniels, who missed the first two games because
of an ankle injury, resumed practicing Tuesday.
Strong safety Morgan Burnett also was back on the field after he
left the team last week to tend to a personal matter back home in
Atlanta. Burnett didn't play Sunday.
--Veteran defensive tackle Letroy Guion is awaiting word from the
league office on whether his three-game suspension for the start of
the season will be upheld.
Guion reportedly had his hearing for an appeal of the suspension
completed Monday.
The punishment stems from Guion's arrest in February near his home
in Florida on charges of possession of marijuana and a firearm.
After he started every game last season in his first year with the
Packers, the coaches have been preparing as though they won't have
Guion when the season starts Sept. 13 at the Chicago Bears.
Guion didn't play the first preseason game after suffering a
hamstring injury early in training camp. He was relegated to a
backup role Sunday and wound up doing scout-team work in practice
Tuesday.
Defensive end Datone Jones, another returning starter, is suspended
for the first game of the season because of a violation of the
league's substance-abuse policy.
-----------------------------------------------
NFL Team Report - Green Bay Packers - STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES
--DT Letroy Guion on Thursday was suspended by the NFL for the first
three games of the season without pay after being found in violation
of its substance-abuse policy. Guion, a returning starter, was
arrested near his home in Florida shortly after last season ended in
February on felony charges of drug and firearm possession. Guion can
finish the preseason with the team before being away until after its
Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28.
--QB Aaron Rodgers probably will not suit up for the preseason game
Saturday night at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers
didn't practice Thursday, but backup QB Matt Blanchard told
reporters in the locker room: "I know the starters aren't going to
be playing." Head coach Mike McCarthy's potentially cautious
approach with his front-line players on offense in the third of four
preseason games would be reasonable, considering Green Bay lost top
WR Jordy Nelson to a season-ending knee injury last weekend and
practiced this week without three of its five starting offensive
linemen.
--LB Clay Matthews practiced Tuesday and Wednesday before the
Packers were off the field on Thursday. Matthews could be cleared to
make his belated preseason debut Saturday against Philadelphia after
he missed the first two games because of knee and elbow soreness.
--LT David Bakhtiari is expected to miss a second straight game
Saturday, when the Packers host Philadelphia, because of a nagging
knee injury. Up in the air is whether Don Barclay gets another shot
to start at left tackle after he struggled as Bakhtiari's
replacement with the first-string offense in Green Bay's loss at the
Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
--LG Josh Sitton did not return to practice Wednesday and still was
dealing with an ankle injury that cropped up after he made his
customary start in the preseason loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Sitton's likely absence from the game Saturday against Philadelphia
would mean a spot start for Lane Taylor.
--RG T.J. Lang still was going through the league-mandated protocol
for a concussion and is not expected to play Saturday against
Philadelphia. Lang was knocked out of the loss at Pittsburgh on
Sunday because of the head injury. First-year pro Josh Walker worked
in Lang's spot during practice this week.
--QB Scott Tolzien was still being tested at midweek for a
concussion he sustained in the loss at Pittsburgh last Sunday.
Tolzien's likely unavailability for Saturday's game against
Philadelphia, coupled with the anticipated scratch of QB Aaron
Rodgers, would leave Green Bay with the youthful quarterback duo of
rookie Brett Hundley and Matt Blanchard for the entire game.
--DE Datone Jones didn't practice Tuesday and Wednesday because of a
knee injury that knocked him out of the preseason loss at Pittsburgh
on Sunday. Jones isn't likely to play Saturday against Philadelphia.
--WR James Butler was signed on Thursday. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound
Butler is an undrafted rookie from Louisiana-Lafayette. His addition
puts the Packers' roster at 88 players, two short of the maximum.
--DE Mike Daniels was cleared to practice Tuesday. The returning
starter missed the first two preseason games because of an ankle
injury.
--SS Morgan Burnett rejoined the team and was back in his customary
starting spot on defense in practice Tuesday. Burnett left the team
last week and missed the preseason loss at Pittsburgh because of a
personal matter at home in Atlanta.
--WR Jared Abbrederis still hasn't been cleared to return to the
field because of a concussion he sustained in the opening practice
of training camp July 30. Abbrederis could be in danger of missing a
second straight season as a pro after his rookie campaign was wiped
out by a torn ACL suffered early in the preseason last year.
BATTLE OF THE WEEK: No. 4 and 5 wide receivers.
The sobering news Monday that top wideout Jordy Nelson will miss the
entire 2015 season because of a torn ACL he sustained early in the
24-19 preseason loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday leaves the
Packers suddenly thin at the position down the depth chart.
Returning Pro Bowl player Randall Cobb, second-year pro Davante
Adams and intriguing rookie Ty Montgomery now form the leading trio.
After that, there's no clear-cut keepers on the roster.
The athletic Jeff Janis, who played sparingly as a seventh-round
draft pick last season, would seem to be safe with a team-high five
catches for 56 yards and a touchdown in the first two preseason
games. Yet, Janis has been riddled by inconsistency since the start
of training camp.
Jared Abbrederis, taken two rounds higher than Janis in last year's
draft, hasn't been able to get back on the field after suffering a
concussion in the first practice of camp last month. His maddening
setback comes a year after he suffered a season-ending torn ACL
early in camp.
Second-year pro Myles White has the most experience (third season)
in Green Bay's system among its receivers after Cobb but has been
dogged by drops this preseason. With the Packers likely to keep
five, if not six, receivers in the wake of the huge loss of Nelson,
undrafted rookie Larry Pinkard is in the conversation. The 6-foot,
196-pound Pinkard caught the attention of quarterback Aaron Rodgers
and other veteran players on the team at the outset of camp and has
two receptions for 43 yards in the games thus far.
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