Packers: Chad Clifton Has “Significant” Hamstring Injury

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Jim Biever, Packers.com

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy called Chad Clifton’s hamstring injury “significant” Monday afternoon, confirming that the 35-year-old tackle will miss several weeks but also that the Packers staff doesn’t exactly have a handle on the severity quite yet because of the swelling and bleeding around the injury.

Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel tweeted this from McCarthy’s press conference:

“McCarthy on Clifton: Suffered a significant hamstring, probably take a couple weeks to get hands around how significant. Will be out weeks”
Clifton hurt the hamstring in the first half of the Packers 25-14 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He was clearly in pain as he left the field under the assistance of the training staff, and a cart was needed to get him to the locker room.

McCarthy also confirmed that there has been no talk of putting Clifton on IR yet, but that internal discussions between he and GM Ted Thompson had begun on whether or not to bring in another offensive lineman. The Packers played the rest of Sunday night’s game with just Evan Dietrich-Smith as an active backup lineman.

The “next man up” mantra that has defined the Packers for the past two seasons was on full display against the Falcons, as they got solid play from both Marshall Newhouse, who shifted from right tackle to the left after Clifton’s injury, and rookie Derek Sherrod, who played on the right side and recovered nicely from a rocky start.

It’s possible that the Packers will also get back Bryan Bulaga for Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. McCarthy said that he’ll know more about Bulaga’s status tomorrow and he wasn’t sure if he’d play on the right or left. A rough guess at this point would say that Bulaga returns to the right side and Newhouse remains at left tackle, but that’s obviously a fluid situation. Much of the decision could depend on how long Clifton is expected to be out.

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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.

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6 thoughts on “Packers: Chad Clifton Has “Significant” Hamstring Injury

  1. I believe McCarthy said they wouldn’t be able to do adequate testing for 2 weeks. And if there is blood causing the swelling he has a partial tear at a minimum. He’s headed to IR.

    1. Yes, you’re right. I don’t claim to be a doctor by any means, but I’ll take your word on that kind of swelling. Doesn’t sound good overall.

  2. Surprised MM didn’t call it a “bruised” hamstring injury. He did manage to get the other operative word “significant” in there.

  3. Activate Bryan Bulaga but let the kids start. If one of them falters put him in. I bet the kids wil do just fine against the Rams and get serious work in.

    1. Got to disagree Bob. If Bulaga is ready put him where he will play until Clifton returns, if he returns. Then use Newsome at the other spot. That’s the starting line for the full term of Clifton’s absence. Remember the Queens have the ability to rush the passer better than most, even though their offense stinks. AP is their one and only threat. AR’s protection is paramount. No playing games with AR’s health, ever.

      Break Bulaga back into the starting lineup where he will coninue to be, whether that be LT or RT. A geame against the Rams at home sounds just great.

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