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The floodgates are officially open.
For the second time in the last few days, we have a report that a Green Bay Packers player has suffered a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament. This time, it's offensive lineman Don Barclay, as Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports:
Barclay suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Tuesday afternoon's practice at Nitschke Field, according to a league source.
Referred to as a "6th starter" by head coach Mike McCarthy and company at times this offseason, he spent most of the 2013 season as the starter at right tackle and has made 18 total starts in his two years. While Barclay was not likely to be a starter in 2014 (barring an injury to one of the starting five), he provided critical depth and versatility behind the team's starting five, and has contributed at right tackle, both guard spots, and center in the past.
Moving forward, this appears to lock Derek Sherrod in as the primary backup at both tackle positions, while second-year guard Lane Taylor will contribute in the interior of the line. It's also possible that whichever center loses the battle for the starting job (either Corey Linsley or JC Tretter) may also take some practice reps at guard.
Barclay was in the third and final year of his rookie contract, signed before the 2012 season when he entered the league as an undrafted free agent from West Virginia. He will be a Restricted Free Agent after this season.
This is the latest ACL injury to befall the Packers. Last season, tackle Bryan Bulaga suffered a season-ending ACL tear at the team's Family Night Scrimmage, while rookie wide receiver Jared Abbrederis was just diagnosed with an ACL tear of his own late last week. Look for Barclay to spend the season rehabilitating, and it would make sense for the Packers to re-sign him in the offseason and let him compete for a roster spot again in 2015.