We'd be singing a different tune had the final moments in Jacksonville gone a bit differently. A short lapse of time that made the difference between the Packers escaping the blistering Florida heat relatively healthy, and trudging away with the fourth reported concussion in the seven-year career of Sam Shields. While it was his fourth in five years, it was also his second in less than a year, and as a result, it may be time for Shields to start contemplating his future and the state of his own well-being.

Since falling out of the 2010 NFL Draft and helping engineer a defensive powerhouse during the Packers' Super Bowl run, Shields has long set the standard for other hopeful undraftees to follow. In 2016, the Packers may just need one to help stabilize the cornerbacks unit that Shields has led for the last five years. 

Josh Hawkins crept his way onto the team's final roster after stringing together some promising performances during the preseason. Despite this, he was one of the seven inactive players on Sunday against Jacksonville. He's been evidently fending off a hamstring injury, much like Jayrone Elliott and Chris Banjo — two key special teams players with similar injuries.

Shields, meanwhile, was run through concussion protocol on Monday and there isn't any word on whether or not he'll be active against the Vikings on Sunday night.

"Anytime any of our players is in protocol and dealing with a concussion is a concern." head coach Mike McCarthy said in his habitual Monday presser. "That's why we'll evaluate Sam each and every day and most importantly make sure he's healthy."

That's enough of a reason for concern, let alone with a secondary that, based off of week one, is as thin as it is disoriented. 

My "hot take" over the last few months was that the Packers rolling with said thin secondary is a liability. All it took was a mere injury to one of the vital starters — in this case, Shields, to really put a damper on that group and their productivity. It doesn't help to note the significant struggles second-year corner Quinten Rollins faced with his assignment on Sunday. Struggles so brutal, that it eventually led to Rollins' benching for Ladarius Gunter, a second-year player whose impact has been stagnant with very few opportunities. 

While Gunter may have arguably been utilized improperly, being more of a nickel cornerback, the only reason Rollins re-entered the game was due to the concussion Shields suffered late in the fourth quarter amidst his tackle on Jaguars' running back T.J. Yeldon. A once in a blue moon bad day for Rollins, or a sophomore slump upcoming?

As it stands right now, the Packers have three healthy, active cornerbacks on the roster. Barring any changes, Damarious Randall may continue to be the one corner whose coverage on the outside is safe to place your money on. His appreciable performance against the Jaguars will be a necessity in Minnesota, where speed in the Vikings' offense is less than optimal for a battered secondary. A perfect opportunity for Hawkins, whose 4.3 speed would be more than welcomed.

Don't expect Micah Hyde to swap back to the position the Packers originally drafted him at, either. Green Bay's human Swiss Army knife has a new role at safety in the place of Morgan Burnett, who may now be utilized more often at linebacker in the defense's nickel package. More often than not alongside Joe Thomas — who is also coming off a strong outing in a broiling Jacksonville.

"Thank goodness for guys like Burnett and Hyde who are okay to play a number of different positions," admitted defensive coordinator Dom Capers on Monday, referring to plugging in a variety of different components with a star player absent. "To me, that's the advantage of moving guys around through the course of training camp. We've been through this. We have guys who are trained to play multiple positions."

More news on Shields is expected to come as the Packers' divisional showdown approaches. It's safe to say the minds of Capers and cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr are hard at work on how they'll stumble forward without the 28-year old Shields if he's a no-go.