Neal, Poppinga, Most Likely Done for the Season
Two more members of the defense could be headed to injured reserve.
By PackerAaron
The hits just keep on coming for the Green Bay Packers.
Bob McGinn reports that Mike Neal's shoulder injury and Brady Poppinga's knee injury, may land them on Injured Reserve:
Rookie defensive end Mike Neal of the Green Bay Packers has a serious shoulder injury and probably will miss the rest of the season.The Packers haven't made known the type or extent of Neal's injury, but sources said it didn't look good for him to return this season.
It's possible that Neal could be placed on injured reserve Saturday if the club, as expected, needs a roster spot in order to activate cornerback Al Harris from the physically unable to perform list.
Linebacker Brady Poppinga, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday, also is a candidate for season-ending injured reserve.
Backing up this report is Jen Lada of Fox 6 who recently spent a good deal of time with Neal and, presumably, members of the training staff for a piece she did on the hyperbaric chamber Neal has been using since his early season rib injury.
After McGinn's headline "Neal may miss rest of year", started to appear on Twitter, Lada posted this to her Twitter account:
I've been led to believe the same.
The loss of Neal, while seemingly minor considering how little the rookie has played this year, could play a big part in the Packers' fortunes on defense, especially later in the season. One of the biggest issues facing the defensive line last year was the amount of snaps the likes of Cullen Jenkins and then-starter Johnny Jolly were asked to play. The personnel has already started to feel the effects of a shortened rotation, with BJ Raji asked to play almost every defensive snap last week against the Dolphins. The dropoff is noticeable from Neal to fellow rookie C.J Wilson and second year man Jarius Wynn.
The loss of Poppinga is mitigated by the presumed return of Clay Matthews from a hamstring injury. The Packers have been rotating between Brad Jones, Frank Zombo and Brady Poppinga at outside linebacker. Rookie Robert Francois had a two-series audition during the Dolphins game and then did not see the field again from scrimmage.
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Comments (42)
October 23, 2010 at 12:43 am
yep.
GBP 4 LIFE
October 23, 2010 at 01:14 am
Un-F'ing real. At least Poppinga's injured.
October 23, 2010 at 02:14 am
Do not drink the water in GB--Crazy. Neal, another Justin Harrel?-great. Say it ain't so, NOT pile on Popps?
October 23, 2010 at 06:36 am
It'll take another 2 years of total inactivity to call Neal another Justin Harrell. It's maybe a little premature for that comparison.
October 23, 2010 at 10:08 am
The comparison is just off. Neal had a relatively clean history at Purdue, and played tons of snaps. Harrell came in as damaged goods. Back problems like Harrell has had also tend to be life-long and difficult to rehab. There is no reason to think that Neal shoulder will become a chronic problem.
October 24, 2010 at 12:34 am
Neal had a shoulder injury in 08, and missed 5 games
October 24, 2010 at 05:28 pm
While we're making ridiculous comparisons, can we also say that Morgan Burnett is the next Bob Sanders?
October 23, 2010 at 02:38 am
Unreal this is getting out of hand.
IR is getting crowded.
Ryan Grant
Nick Barnett
Jermichael Finley
Morgan Burnett
Justin Harrel
Derrick Martin
Mike Neal
Brady Poppinga
Johnny Jolly (Suspended)
Missed Time or games with injuries
Al Harris
Atari Bigby
Clay Matthews
Donald Lee
Ryan Pickett
Brad Jones
Brandon Chillar
Mark Tauscher
Other injuries w/little or no missed time.
Aaron Rodgers
Donald Driver
Charles Woodson
Cullen Jenkins
AJ Hawk
Chad Clifton
Still with all these injuries this team hasn't lost a game by more than 3 points, thats as much positive spin as I can put on it..
October 23, 2010 at 05:09 pm
Even more - you can certainly make the argument that they beat themselves in the 3 games they've lost. This season is desperate, yes, but not over with... even w/all the injuries.
October 23, 2010 at 03:43 am
This really pisses me off to no end!
October 23, 2010 at 06:45 am
Just when I was looking at the 53 and seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel. Eight players to IR in six games. At this rate street FA will be starting everywhere by seasons end. It's 6:30 AM and I reaching for a cold one.
October 23, 2010 at 08:44 am
Get me one while you're up.
October 23, 2010 at 11:31 am
me too
October 23, 2010 at 08:02 am
Not Neal!!!
*sigh*
October 23, 2010 at 04:56 pm
Literally the same words came out of my mouth as I clicked this link.
JohnRehor
October 23, 2010 at 08:27 am
Packers have been relatively healthy for years. It had to catch up some time. But this is getting F-ing ridiculous!
October 23, 2010 at 10:13 am
You mean like in 2008? This is two out of three seasons, "lost."
October 23, 2010 at 08:50 am
gonna see a lot more nickel?
i'd rather have more lbs and/or corners on the field while jenkins, raji, and pickett spell eachother than rotating wilson or wynn in there (they suck).
i can't wait 'til harris is up to speed. wood'll be able to get back to that nickel spot where he did so much damage last year. harris' return actually gives us our 3rd best pass rusher back (woodson) behind mathews and jenkins.
IF THEY CAN'T "GET IT UP" THIS WEEK, THEN THEY JUST CAN'T "GET IT UP"!
October 23, 2010 at 09:11 am
this is f-ing INSANE!
October 23, 2010 at 09:26 am
Given these kinds of injuries, the only trade for a starter type player (if you want to call him that) was the Packs 7th round pick for a safety we cut.
This is not good for the Packers, Vikings may have an easy time Sunday Night.
October 24, 2010 at 12:42 am
Timing sucks
October 23, 2010 at 09:46 am
Either they are drafting injury prone players or conditioning has got to be called into question. The other teams are facing the same level of violence as the Packers. And, no I don't believe in luck. Something is different.
October 23, 2010 at 10:38 am
Yea, it must be the trainers (roll-eyes).
October 23, 2010 at 11:30 am
There is such a thing as bad luck, but after awhile you have to admit that this an issue which is affecting our team unlike any other in the league. I think some questions need to be asked regarding our conditioning.
October 23, 2010 at 10:01 am
Another linebacker down. . . anyone hear just how bad Spencer Havner's hammy is? We may need to give him a call.
October 23, 2010 at 10:12 am
Can't wait for that 18 game regular season so we can see Dave Roller back in uniform.
October 23, 2010 at 10:15 am
When the medical staff's emphasis is on rehab, you have injuries.
When the medical staff's emphasis is on prevention, you have fewer and less severe injuries.
During the season the conditioning staff and medical personnel are the most important staff support to the team. Does anyone EVER question what they do? NEVER, they are always given a free pass.
The result being...lots of preventable injuries.
October 23, 2010 at 10:42 am
Another yo yo post. So, if only Al Harris had somehow been prevented from injuring his knee. Or, Barnett his wrist. Or, Burnett his knee, or the trainers had somehow prevented the defender from (deliberately?) jumping on Grant's legs during the tackle that hurt him or the trainer had sent an invisible shield to protect Picket from getting his ankle rolled.
The only "preventable injury was Justin Harrell as he is ALWAYS hurt and is only being carried each year because TT can't admit his mistake.
October 23, 2010 at 10:21 am
If I were McCarthy I would be "bitching like hell" to management about the medical and conditioning staff performance.
BECAUSE
When they do a poor job, he does not have players, the team loses, he is held accountable and loses his job.
Happens all the time. Anyone remember a coach by the name of Sherman? He was a winner with healthy players, and lost his job when the players were injured.
October 23, 2010 at 11:32 am
Sherman lost his job because he was a terrible GM.
October 23, 2010 at 10:45 am
A prevention doc notices small musculoskeletal irregularities and corrects them before they become large injuries needing rehab. (PREVENTION)
The rehab doc doesn't have the training and experience for identifying and correcting small musculoskeletal irregularities, ignores them. When placed under stress from practice, weight training or game activities the body fails and now you have a major injury needing rehab.
Any dork can identify a major injury, you don't need a medical degree.
October 23, 2010 at 11:19 am
go Badgers.
October 23, 2010 at 11:33 am
word
October 23, 2010 at 08:12 pm
Badgers 31 Stinkeyes 30 W00000000000!
October 24, 2010 at 09:36 am
Iowa punter - 60.5 Gross - 50.5 Net. Are you watching TT?
October 23, 2010 at 11:37 am
That's gonna suck for Neal, a guy who already has a million things running through his mind and takes out his free time aggressions in the weight room. With a bum shoulder that leaves you with just Abs, lower back and Legs to work out.
October 23, 2010 at 01:04 pm
During the draft I have to say I said a few bad words when the Pack picked Neal in the second round, boy was I wrong. This really hurts an already deplete defense going into our toughest part of the Packer's season.
IMO with a good defensive line with 4 starters could really go far if they ever get a rhythm going. Just look what Mr. White and company did and how valuable that defensive line was.
This maybe the final blow for the Packers, just too much to over come at this point.
The only good news is that their are not 5 or 6 NFC team that look better than everone else, with a little luck the Pack may still make some noise this year. Any other season and Pack would not have a chance.
BECAUSE OF THIS CRAZY YEAR, THE PACKERS STILL HAVE A CHANCE. How much of a chance will be determined Sunday Night.
October 23, 2010 at 04:51 pm
Yo Ted,
I'm not the biggest, strongest, or fastest guy but I'm fackin ready. Give me helmet TT!
October 23, 2010 at 08:19 pm
Saddly, the loss of so many players give Mcfarty another excuse & another year to waste our teams talent!
October 23, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Anyone have that video of Aaron Rodgers walking off the field and nonchalantly giving Charles Woodson a hand shake right before he picked off a pass. If anyone has that clip or can find it please post it because I need something sexy to watch.
October 24, 2010 at 01:11 am
If you need something "sexy" to watch I'm sure you can find something better than that on the internet.
October 24, 2010 at 09:55 am
Will Clay Matthews and atari bigbi and al harris be playing today?