After a run of good health after the bye week, the Packers place almost half the team on the injury report this week. The loss at New Orleans was a disaster in many ways. Meanwhile Carolina has two guys listed on their injury report with only one guy out.

The good news is that this is just a laundry list. Most everyone should play and almost everyone practiced on Friday. Everyone knew LB Nick Barnett is done for the season. Now it looks like reserve CB Pat Lee has a knee problem, I hope it's not too serious, but his absence doesn't make much difference. 3rd string RB DeShawn Wynn won't play either, but he's been inactive most games this season anyway. Maybe DE Michael Montgomery can't play, which won't help the poor run defense, but it looks like DE Jeremy Thompson is ready to return.

The only two major players who might miss the game are RT Mark Tauscher and S Aaron Rouse. Tauscher expects to play on Sunday. If not, then reserve RT Tony Moll will play and he was fine against New Orleans. I don't know about Rouse, but he did practice all week. There shouldn't be too many bodies missing by game time.

The Packers' run defense has been a big problem this season. Last season, the run defense was much better and DT Corey Williams played a lot last season after DT Johnny Jolly was lost for the season due to an injury.

GM Ted Thompson used the franchise tag on Williams in the offseason, with the intention of keeping him for one more season and probably letting him leave in free agency after 2008 or 2009. Instead, Cleveland's GM Phil Savage gave Thompson an offer he couldn't refuse, Williams for a 2nd round draft choice. The Packers used the pick to select QB Brian Brohm, and Cleveland gave Williams $36 million, with as much as $18 million guaranteed.

Although the Packers could use the help on the defensive line, Williams would have been no help.

Football Outsiders ranks the Packers defensive line 31st, only Cleveland (Williams' new home) is ranked worse. Chris from Dawgs by Nature confirms that Williams has failed to make a significant impact. And Williams is struggling while playing right next to arguably the best defensive lineman in the NFL:

"I think [DT Shaun Rogers]'s as good as any defensive tackle in the game. It's obvious that he's going to suffer from the fact that opposing offenses can really make things happen if only they can get him out of the way. Not that it's easy - the way he's playing now, Shaun Rogers is one all-in, non-stop, hellacious problem for any offensive line...

Through the second quarter, the Jaguars double-teamed Rogers more often; he was obviously the focus of that offensive line. The object was to get two guys on him, push one way, and send the play the other. The Browns currently rank 32nd in Defensive Adjusted Line Yards despite Rogers' presence. That's a pretty good indicator that if you stop him, you stop the line."

I had been wondering if the Packers were missing Williams, and that is truly not the case.

This isn't really surprising. Per wikipedia, "a grand jury rarely acts in a manner contrary to the wishes of the prosecutor." Now Jolly has to figure out what he wants to do and see if this will end his season.

Obviously he's got some legal issues to figure out, but his loss would be huge on the field. Jolly isn't having a great season, he was much better in 2007, but NT Ryan Pickett has been struggling with injuries all season and the only other tackle on the active roster is Colin Cole. I'm not a big fan of Cole although he's been getting some good press lately. Even if DT Justin Harrell is able to return soon, that would leave only three tackles if Jolly is suspended. There are a couple tackles on the practice squad, but they are clearly a step down from Jolly.

This shouldn't have any impact on the game at Tennessee, although Jolly might be understandably distracted this week. I doubt there will be any discipline this week, the players' union would probably go balistic if the league or team tried to discipline a player who only has charges pending. Keep your eyes on the NFL police blotter for any updates.