Packers head coach Mike McCarthy announced Monday during his regularly scheduled press conference that rookie running back Alex Green suffered a knee injury against the Minnesota Vikings that will cost him the remainder of the 2011 season. The injury occurred when Randall Cobb fell into the back of Green’s legs during a kick return in the first quarter.
Surgery is required, but McCarthy was unable to give a timetable of when it may occur. The team is going to wait 7-to-10 days on the knee before making a final decision.
The team may also address the position with a roster move down the road. No names were mentioned, but undrafted free agent Brandon Saine remains on the Packers practice squad and Dimitri Nance is still unsigned.
Other highlights from McCarthy’s Monday press conference:
- Players earned an extra day off during the bye. McCarthy noted how traveling in and out of Green Bay affects how the team must handle the bye week schedule. His list of priorities for the players included spending time with family and getting rest.
- Four minute offense at the end of the game came down to fundamentals. James Starks was patient in reading blocks and also broke some tackles. McCarthy was confident in running the football to win the game in that situation.
- You have to figure in how your guy is playing and the conditions when sending out your kicker for a long field goal. The original max line for Mason Crosby was the 40-yard line, but McCarthy felt confident sending him out after seeing him on previous kickoffs and warmups.
- McCarthy also said that Mason earned those opportunities. He’s kicking it well in 2011, and especially in domes.
- When asked how he thought the team was playing, McCarthy said the players have graded out above average. Excited to be at 7-0, but there is obvious room for improvement. No big changes planned for the bye week, but the Packers know they are giving up too many big plays on defense.
- Sam Shields (concussion) was cleared on Monday. Greg Jennings has a bruised hand and should be good to go. Bye week will be good for Morgan Burnett (hand).
- CB Jarrett Bush graded out well Sunday and coaches were pleased with his performance filling in.
- High praise for Aaron Rodgers. McCarthy said Rodgers was the best decision maker he’s been around since Joe Montana in Kansas City in ’93. He’s in tune with what the defense gives him, running a well-oiled machine. Other positives continue to be his anticipation arm strength and discipline with the ball.
- Packers feel they can challenge anyone in the NFL with their vertical passing game, especially with Aaron’s command of the offense.
- LT Marshall Newhouse was solid in playing against a great player in Jared Allen. Marshall had things to learn from, but adjusted well after early mistakes. The Packers gave him help on the left side.
- McCarthy wants his players to be unseen and unheard during the bye week. Be ready for San Diego following the break.
- According to trainers, both DE Mike Neal (knee) and LT Chad Clifton (hamstring) are making process. McCarthy was vague about any more details, however.
Zach Kruse is a 23-year-old sports journalist with a passion for the Green Bay Packers. He currently lives in Wisconsin and is working on his journalism degree, while also covering prep sports for The Dunn Co. News.
You can read more of Zach's Packers articles on AllGreenBayPackers.com.
Follow @zachkruse2——————
With only 3 other RBs on the roster, Saine would be the obvious choice. Of course, I must ask: is Nance still available, and would they want him? At least they’ll have a bye week to make a decision.
I’ve heard he is still available. Also Johnson was cut by the Titans.
Wasn’t Johnson picked up by the Broncos though ?. Suppose it will come down to whether they feel confident with Saine in pass pro. If not Nance may be an option.
Johnson was picked up on waivers by the broncos, not that I think the Packers were all that interested, I don’t feel that they’ve really missed fullbacks
Yup, Nance is still available. I added that part when I just updated the piece. He’s a guy they really liked, so it’s worth mentioning.
Tough break for Green. Hopefully he gets a full pre season next year and can show us what he can do.
Newhouse was good for me. Getting beat occasionally and needing some help against an elite pass rusher is no shame. The mullet man wasn’t a game changing force. Job done. Talking of the help lovely play by Quarless with the block before his reception.
Bush did well. Having him as a nickel will still make me nervous though.
Hopefully we can use the bye week to get the nicked up players fit and kick on again. Playing above average and being 7-0 is great but watching this team fire on all cylinders would be even better..
I can’t even imagine what this team would be capable of if it fired on all cylinders for 60 minutes.
The part about Allen not being a game-changing force was a key comment there. No one could have expected a clean performance from Newhouse, but you’re right, Allen failed to disrupt what the Packers wanted to do like in year’s past.
Damn kid. Tough, tough break. Hope he doesn’t get complacent, keeps working on the mental part, playbook etc… because this wasn’t his year, but with Grant’s contract ending this year, next year it’ll probably be.
Get well soon Alex.
Hi i am so delighted , I basically located out you by , I had been looking for on Yahoo for 1 stage , Anyhow We?m now and would just have to have to thank you for any terrific publish moreover to a over-all pleasurable weblog (I also delight from the theme/design), I definitely plenty of time into way of all within the having said that I?ng bookmarked this also as added your individual Rss or atom feeds, so when time We are going to possibly be rear to look at a great deal a lot more, Please continue to keep up the wonderful operate.