Pre-Game Injury Report: Lions at Packers

by Brandon on Dec 31, 2011 9:10 AM CST in Green Bay Packers Preview

I don't expect the Green Bay Packers to bench every player who's nursing an injury. They still want to beat the Lions and they'll need to field a team. The only player who could be a healthy scratch is Aaron Rodgers, which is understandable due to his importance, but I would expect they'll be cautious on game time decisions for players who are listed on this week's injury report.

OUT: Randall Cobb, Greg Jennings, and James Starks. DOUBTFUL: Bryan Bulaga. QUESTIONABLE: Clay Matthews, and Charles Woodson. PROBABLE: Chad Clifton, Jermichael Finley, and Ryan Pickett.

If there were two players (other than Rodgers) that I'd like to see sit this weekend, it'd be Matthews and Woodson. Listing them as questionable would make them a game time decision, and I hope they decide to hold them out. The three players listed as probable should play, especially Clifton, who needs the game as a warm up for the playoffs. Reading between the lines, it doesn't look like Bulaga's ready to play and he should be out. They'll be thin at wide receiver without Jennings and Cobb, so look for fewer three receiver sets on Sunday.

I'm not sure who'll be returning kicks and punts in Cobb's absence. No one else has been asked to do either this season except Cobb.

My guess is that the Lions are treating this week like a normal game. Players who are a game time decision will probably play. Not only could a win help secure the No. 5 seed in the playoffs, it's a point of pride to finish strong on the road and end a nearly 20 year losing streak in Wisconsin. I expect all their injured players, except S Louis Delmas (who's been out for a few weeks with a knee injury), will try to play.

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I think we’re just lulling the Lions into a false sense of security and then BANG! Rodgers throws for 3TD’s and Flynn with another one and the Packers win 35-7 … with Schwartz having that perplexed look on his face as McCarthy gives him some advice on hotels in the heart of New Orleans.

Proud fan of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and the 2010 Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself into one."

by hawks61 on Dec 31, 2011 9:50 AM CST reply actions 3 recs

jsonline said J.Nelson & T.Williams were returning punts in practice

link

by DaveInTucson on Dec 31, 2011 12:56 PM CST reply actions

I think that's a horrible idea

too much injury risk there to two important players

by rip_city_swagger on Dec 31, 2011 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

not to mentiont the fact

Tramon was never a very good return guy

by DaveInTucson on Dec 31, 2011 5:25 PM CST up reply actions

The only way I'm good with this plan.....

is if MM has instructed Nelson or Williams to either call for a fair catch or let the ball bounce on EVERY punt return. You just can’t risk these guys getting hurt in a meaningless game. Otherwise, I agree its a horrible idea.

by Icebowler on Dec 31, 2011 8:33 PM CST up reply actions

But... but... why?

by mike_o on Dec 31, 2011 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

Can't we just let Graham Harrell do it?

by Charlie Kelly on Dec 31, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

I lol'd

Then agreed, sigh

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Dec 31, 2011 2:58 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Forget that

So’uperman can handle that stuff no problem.

by Shoes31 on Dec 31, 2011 4:25 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Oh goodness.

Sounds like an awful idea.

Good times never seemed so good!

by Celtin on Dec 31, 2011 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

Who do you suggest they use?

Cobb is out, and Williams and Nelson are the only others who have any experience doing it. Guessing Sane might get the kick returns, but I don’t even know if he has done that. They just don’t have any other options. Unless you want to just give the game away to the lions, Williams and Nelson have to do it. If you have any other viable options, I’m sure McCarthy would love to hear about them, but they don’t exist.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Dec 31, 2011 4:32 PM CST up reply actions

Sam Shields did returns in college

he had a KR td vs Badgers in 2009 Champ Sports Bowl

by DaveInTucson on Dec 31, 2011 5:30 PM CST up reply actions

also for Packers last year

<a href=‘http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ShieSa00/gamelog/2010/’‘>PFR says Shields had 21 returns last year, which is weird, I don’t remember that at all.

Comes from mostly just hoping kicking game is not a disaster, I guess

by DaveInTucson on Dec 31, 2011 5:49 PM CST up reply actions

No Shields didn't do returns.

He had that ONE return against WI in the bowl game on a reverse. Otherwise he wasn’t ever used as a return man.

CBS on Shields ST play…

Played in all 13 games as either a wide receiver or the gunner on special teams … Voted UM’s Special Teams Player of the Year …

Not anywhere in the bio does it say a thing about him doing returns. Heck it doesn’t even say anything about him doing returns in HS, tho I think he might have. Packers TRIED him as a return guy, but he couldn’t hold onto the ball.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Dec 31, 2011 7:51 PM CST up reply actions

Shields was the kick returner for the Packers for most of last season

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 1, 2012 12:38 AM CST up reply actions

yes they did. that or im losing my mind.

Packers Season

by OznCoop on Jan 1, 2012 1:01 AM CST up reply actions

Really?

You sure about that? He had 21 kick returns, Nelson had 22, Starks had 2 and Lee had 13… Shields was given the chance to be the kick returner early in the year but he was ineffective and dropped too many, so they took him off it relatively quickly. And went w/ the more sure handed Nelson and Lee and it seems to me someone else beside Starks. So in short he didn’t do most… He did SOME then was replaced by Nelson, Lee and Starks. Certainly not most!

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 1, 2012 9:45 AM CST up reply actions

Shields' kick returns were all late in the season

Including one in the Philly playoff game.

Jordy Nelson returned kickoffs early; he only had 2 after week 5

Patrick Lee had return duty mostly in 3 games in the middle of the season, although he did have a couple in the Super Bowl, too

by DaveInTucson on Jan 1, 2012 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah, I seem to remember they tried him out early in the preseason..

he dropped too many so they went with Nelson in the regular season. Then late in the season they gave Shields a few chances again (presumably with the mindset that he had fixed his dropping issues) and he didn’t last long again.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jan 1, 2012 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

Thats what it was.

I knew he did alot in preseason, but thought he had some early too. I knew he got a couple late but wasn’t sure how many. I know he dropped a bunch but didn’t know if it was preseason or early regular.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 1, 2012 10:56 AM CST up reply actions

I wasn't arguing with you, I was just saying that he does have some experience doing kick returns

whether or not he did returns in college. I remember being thoroughly underwhelmed when he did returns last year, as the only positive attribute he seemed to have was straight line speed.

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 1, 2012 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

haha..

ya I guess if people are that worried, they could just put no return man back there on punts.

I love wins. Wins are good for the soul.- Barry Alvarez Sep 25, 2005

We expect to win.- Ted Thompson July 28, 2011

by White92 on Dec 31, 2011 6:00 PM CST up reply actions

I don’t think there all that concerned about this game. If they were, they wouldn’t be sitting all the guys that they’re going too.

I’m sure they’re hoping/thinking they can win but if they don’t, than that’s fine too. They should have somebody like Pat Lee do it. I’m pretty sure he’s been used a time or two as a return guy for us. I’m pretty sure he looked bad doing it, but who cares? The game is pretty much meaningless to us; and especially so if the sit Woodson, Matthews, and Rodgers.

It’d

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 1, 2012 1:37 AM CST up reply actions

Pat Lee?

Sure he isn’t a great return man, but he has done it for us and is more expendable comparatively to Tramon or Jordy.

Good times never seemed so good!

by Celtin on Jan 1, 2012 3:08 AM CST up reply actions

Lee

Has only ever done kick returns and he might be the guy for that today, but he has no experience doing punt returns. They are alot different…

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 1, 2012 9:49 AM CST up reply actions

yeah, it takes some serious guts to do punt returns IMO

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 1, 2012 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

That would be silly.

Sam Shields is faster than both those guys anyway.

by nvar21 on Dec 31, 2011 5:38 PM CST up reply actions

Except

The Packers tried him as a returner, but he couldn’t catch the damn ball, nor was he particularly elusive… Just very fast.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Dec 31, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions

sit everyone that needs to, Rodgers shouldn't play more than 1 half

since they got home field in beating the Bears, they have 3 full weeks to rest their injured players – which is a pretty long time. Hopefully that can let Jennings get 100%, Bulaga and Clifton ready, etc. The bye week will let guys with nagging injuries rest up (since it’s 2 weeks between games). They know what they’re doing – they’ll have everyone back and ready to go for the playoffs.

Against the Lions, I think Rodgers will only play a few series, maybe 1 full quarter. But they need to come out gangbusters and have 3 really good drives to show the league they’re ready for the playoffs. I don’t want them to come out flat like they did against KC and kind of go through the motions. Then Flynn can come in and show what he can do. I definitely dont think Rodgers plays more than the first half

by rip_city_swagger on Dec 31, 2011 1:55 PM CST reply actions

I'm not worried about the Pack coming out flat

The Pack man-handled Detroit earlier this year. Rodgers put up over 79 yards in the first half on Thanksgiving. Granted. Detroit lost Ndamukong Suh, Chris Houston and Louis Delmas before the end of the third quarter, but those guys were never really a factor anyway.

"But the point is, finger-pointing is just what sports fans do when something doesn't go right." -- Kurt Mensching

by RealityIsOptionable on Dec 31, 2011 8:34 PM CST up reply actions

lol

Yeah, your team is pretty fucking awful.

14-1
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVI!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 31, 2011 9:02 PM CST up reply actions

You're right

Its not like Suh had a sack or even a quarterback pressure before he left the game. Its not like Houston is the second coming of Charles Woodson, but then again …..who is. I think everyone kind of had the feeling that Rodgers was just toying with the Lions during the first half of that game. Kind of like when my dog flips a live field mouse up into the air for awhile before he puts it out of its misery.

by Icebowler on Dec 31, 2011 8:59 PM CST reply actions

This.

Also, it’s funny how we kicked their asses 27-8 before Stafford threw CJ a touchdown with 11 seconds left to make the score a little more bearable. We absolutely handled them.

14-1
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVI!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 31, 2011 9:07 PM CST up reply actions