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This week, Green Bay Packers cornerback Kevin King showed up on the injury report with a shoulder problem after reportedly aggravating it during last Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. It is the first time that injury has appeared on the report all season, but it is apparently an issue that has been bothering the rookie cornerback for some time.
That injury may have played a part in King not getting the start with the base defense in Chicago, as he came in as the nickel back and played two-thirds of the team’s snaps last week.
Meanwhile, one player who has been a mainstay in the middle of the defense is Blake Martinez, whose tackle numbers are eye-popping by Packers linebacker standards. And although Martinez arguably has been playing at a Pro Bowl level, there’s one thing that has been missing from his game so far this year: turnovers.
In today’s curds, we look at those two young players and look back at Thursday Night Football, which featured the Packers’ week 12 opponent.
Rematch from rookie season awaits David Bakhtiari | Packers.com
Bakhtiari's first season in the NFL and first as a starter was in 2013, the last time the Packers played the AFC North division. He vividly remembers the array of techniques that Terrell Suggs used against him in that game, but Bakh did hold him without a sack in the game.
Packers CB Kevin King insists on playing through shoulder injury - ESPN
A Packers player is playing through a shoulder problem? Oh lordy, I wonder if this is Dr. Pat McKenzie's doing!
Packers LB Blake Martinez intent on having game-changing impact | Packersnews.com
So far, Martinez has been a steady presence in the middle of the defense, making some big tackles in the run game and cleaning up thanks to the dirty work of Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark. However, a near-interception against the Bears is the kind of play he knows he needs to make for the defense to take a step forward.
Revealing the unsung hero of Packers’ two biggest plays vs. Bears | Packers Wire
Still more props go out to Justin McCray - we discussed him a bit in yesterday's curds, but he really had some key blocks on the two big throws from Hundley to Adams last Sunday.
Titans vs. Steelers: 5 things we learned from Steelers’ 40-17 win - SBNation.com
The Packers had better figure out how to pressure Ben Roethlisberger next Sunday night. If they can't, Antonio Brown very well could carve up the secondary.
Big plays on SkyCam offer a different perspective - NFL.com
The broadcast last night used the SkyCam as the primary broadcast viewing angle, giving a video game-like feel to the broadcast. There are still kinks to work out, but it is a cool idea that will hopefully receive some refinement and additional usage in the future.