Several Packers Return To Practice

by Brandon on Aug 18, 2010 7:01 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers Training Camp

While I've spent much of training camp writing about the Green Bay Packers who have gotten hurt, several of those players returned on Tuesday.

The only new player held out due to injury was DE Justin Harrell (I'm sure you can't believe it). According to Mike McCarthy, Harrell's back tightened up. Based on McCarthy's comments, it sounds like he could return to practice as soon as Thursday (no practice on Wednesday).

Greg Bedard reported that OL Jason Spitz, S Will Blackmon, and TE Tom Crabtree all returned to practice on Tuesday. Spitz and Blackmon were out last week, neither played in the first preseason game, and it wasn't exactly clear how serious their respective injuries were. Crabtree injured his hand during Saturday's preseason game and found out on Monday that it wasn't broken. If they can make it through practice this week, I would expect all three will get significant playing time on Saturday.

RB Ryan Grant suffered a concussion in the first preseason game (two plays after his fumble), but he's back at practice on Tuesday. That sounds like a very quick recovery to me, maybe too quick, but I'll just trust the team doctors on this one.

There was a story that CB Al Harris could return to practice by next Monday, and he was seen running on the field during Tuesday's practice. That's still a couple steps away from returning, but he's certainly making progress.

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glad to hear Grant is back

I hope the concussion was nothing serious…as much as I ride him about him being average, he’s still our best option easily right now and we need him out there!

by TrevorR on Aug 18, 2010 1:39 PM CDT reply actions

I'd like to take it easy with RG

because I don’t want him lost for the season when we haven’t seen Starks. If anything, we need to pull in some ex-Badger back just for depth…

Samkon Gado’s gone to Tennessee…

My kingdom for a spellchecker. Or Devin Harris. Hopefully both.
"Right, a ball of hot flaming gas that collapses upon itself." -Doctor Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Aug 18, 2010 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions

It may be too much to ask, but I just want this year's team to be healthy.

by Bush League All Star on Aug 18, 2010 2:29 PM CDT reply actions

I know right? Why does it seem like we never are?

by packallday555 on Aug 18, 2010 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Harrell is a joke

We paid this guy so much money, has he even played a down during a real game?!? Has he ever played a down that mattered?
My fan club recently had a preseason party. My son who doesn’t like football(WTF?!?!) felt kinda uncomfortable going. I said to him “Sam, any question you get asked just turn it around to, ‘Everything will be fine if Harrell gets his fat ass out of the training room and back out on the field where it belongs!’” He nailed it. The sad part about it is it’s true! I hope AJ Hawk and Clay Matthews make a Favre sandwich this year. Dom let ’em off the chain when the Viqueers come to town!!

by biggun33 on Aug 18, 2010 5:34 PM CDT reply actions

How about this for a head twister

At the beginning of the year three guys failed the physical and got on the PUP list: Starks, Bigby, and Harris. Of those three, only one looks like he’ll be ready for the home opener…Al freakin’ Harris. Yup, the guy who every one was sure wouldn’t make it the opening day beat out the two younger guys who were a bit of a surprise to be on the PUP list to begin with.

Got to hand it to the guy, he’s hardcore.

by PackApologist on Aug 19, 2010 3:13 PM CDT reply actions

being ready to come off the PUP and being ready to play well are very different though. I was never doubting he’d be able to make it back on the roster, I did however doubt he could return to take his previous job back (by earning it).

I am impressed that he has fought back this fast though, he’s a fighter!!

by TrevorR on Aug 20, 2010 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

While that is true if he’s taken off the PUP now that means that he’s going to be ready much sooner than expected. It means that if they want to keep him on the roster that he should be ready within the first six weeks. It also tells me he might not be off with his goal of being ready to play for the first week of the year.

by PackApologist on Aug 20, 2010 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

very true

I think Harris is on the opening day 53 man roster! I don’t think he’ll be quite ready to start week 1. Another week or two IMO, given the severity of his injuries.

Harris and Bigby know the Defense pretty well. Its not like they’ll have to learn a whole lot when they are ready. I don’t think being on the PUP would hurt Bigby too much. I think he would get his starting job back pretty quickly after coming off PUP, if he is on it… It would take Burnett playing absolutely lights out for Bigby not to start and Burnett hasn’t been playing lights out.

by Strohman on Aug 20, 2010 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Experience

I think if Bigby goes PUP and doesn’t play those 1st 6 weeks the experience Burnett gets may enable him to keep that starting job. I’ve felt Bigby has been a weak link the last 2 years.

by the yooper on Aug 20, 2010 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah the last 2 years when INJURED

Burnett is still a rookie and he’s gonna get picked on alot early in the season! Happens to all rookie DB’s. Maybe they can protect him some, but that still limits the D. Unless Burnett plays lights out he won’t keep the starting job. Let the rookie learn for the year, it is what would be best for him anyway! Bigby will be healthy and a healthy Bigby is a damn good safety!

by Strohman on Aug 20, 2010 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions

sooo...

that means he’s had ONE good full season, one awful injured season, and one decent injured season.

by TrevorR on Aug 21, 2010 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Looking at it that way don't sound to good for Bigby

by the yooper on Aug 21, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Harrell will return!

He was off for personal reasons (wife had a kid yesterday), but Mike Mac said he could have practiced.

by PackFaninFL on Aug 20, 2010 2:21 AM CDT reply actions

I think so, too.

Harrell’s back felt ‘tight’ (a feeling many here are probably familiar with; I sure am, haha).
Given his recent history, the Packers were just “being smart” with him.
I know from personal experience how a back can tighten up one day, and then fell fine the next (or not, but…).
If Justin’s wife had a baby, well, he certainly isn’t the first to miss time for that reason.
If coach Mac says he could’ve practiced, then I can accept that, until it is proven otherwise.

-
The glass is way more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Aug 21, 2010 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions