Packers’ King, Brice, Martinez suffer injuries against Patriots

The Green Bay Packers entered Sunday night’s game against the New England Patriots with a full lineup on defense. They will leave it as a M*A*S*H unit.

Three starters have left the game with injuries in the second and third quarters on the defense: cornerback Kevin King, safety Kentrell Brice, and inside linebacker Blake Martinez. King was ruled out for the game with a hamstring injury, Brice is questionable to return with a knee issue, and Martinez rolled his ankle and was taken to the locker room on a cart.

King was replaced by Josh Jackson, who recorded a pass breakup on a goal-line stand in the third quarter. Josh Jones and Tramon Williams are currently the safeties, as the team is missing both Brice and Jermaine Whitehead, who was ejected in the second quarter. The linebacker unit is largely to be determined minus Martinez, who had not missed a snap all year prior to the injury; Antonio Morrison and Oren Burks are the only remaining active players who line up at linebacker, as Whitehead has pitched in there as well.

The Packers also saw Jaire Alexander briefly leave the game, but he appeared to be cramping and should be able to return.

For a team that had seemed to finally be healthy on defense, this is a frustrating turn of events. Stay tuned, however, as the Packers and Pats are tied at 17 going to the fourth quarter.