Packers' Bryan Bulaga could be ready for Sept. 9 opener
-- On the first day of training camp, the Green Bay Packers will have some positive news to ride on as they enter their first practice of the summer.
Both right tackle Bryan Bulaga and outside linebacker Nick Perry have a chance to be ready for the Sept. 9 season opener against the Chicago Bears.
Bulaga suffered a torn ACL in November against the Detroit Lions and has been steadily rehabbing ever since. Perry, on the other hand, had ankle surgery this offseason and was forced to miss the offseason program.
They're the only players beginning training camp on the Packers' PUP (physically unable to perform) list.
"I don't think there's any threat that they'll be ready for the season," coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday before the team's first practice. "This is clearly a medical decision. There's timelines and things you look at history-wise with particular injuries. I think it's more in tune with that. But I know both guys are chomping to get out there in the full mode."
Bulaga's situation is certainly a surprising one. Many expected him to miss the first several games of the season -- and while on PUP, he'd need to sit out the first six weeks -- before being activated to the roster.
His status means the most for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is rebounding from a broken collarbone suffered last season. As much starting experience and stability along the offensive line as he can get would be the ideal turnout by September.
"You obviously had a similar injury before and very much in tune with the time frame there, but he looks great," McCarthy said of Bulaga, who last tore his ACL in the summer of 2013 and ended up missing the entire regular season.
"I think Bryan has been here the whole summer except for maybe one day, two days. I know that he was in here every day that I was in here. So, same with Nick. This is more of a Dr. [Pat] McKenzie-type decision and I think he's got to also look into history and obviously where they are in their career."
The Packers begin their first training camp practice of the year today at 11:30 a.m.
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (28)
Bearmeat
July 26, 2018 at 01:05 pm
This is great news, but I'm taking it with a pile of salt in both cases.
1. Perry
2. Bulaga
3. Matthews
4. Cobb
5. Montgomery
Five guys that I am holding my breath for each and every week.
Blizzard
July 26, 2018 at 06:15 pm
Yup, the aforementioned FOREVER INJURED 5
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 07:52 am
TK's radar is slipping: there's an "aforementioned" here and he didn't even catch it. C'mon, man. Regular season is only, like, 6 weeks away and you're way out of game shape!
TKWorldWide
July 27, 2018 at 09:19 am
Argh!!
Noted.
Just watch me improve.
(Thank you, 21!)
TKWorldWide
July 27, 2018 at 09:22 am
Hey big D! (Actually, lower case ‘d’, but I digress.)
“Pile of salt”reference just above!
I think your “Lot’s wife” thing is really catching fire!
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 09:55 am
Bearmeat beat me to that, but I can unashamedly follow the leads of others. Unoriginality is my specialty!
TKWorldWide
July 27, 2018 at 11:10 am
Whereas I like to plan my spontaneity carefully in advance.
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 12:47 pm
I try to get my spontaneity in between the early bird special at Perkins and my late afternoon nap.
TKWorldWide
July 27, 2018 at 01:41 pm
Well slotted.
I once had a friend criticize me for being “too indecisive”. My reply was, “How can you be so sure of that?”
Since'61
July 26, 2018 at 02:24 pm
It would be huge for the Packers to have Bulaga ready for week 1. That would make the outlook for the right side of the OL very positive. Thanks, Since '61
GBPDAN1
July 26, 2018 at 02:35 pm
It would be huge to have these 2 important players available for the start of the season. Damn I hope we have a positive year regarding injuries!! We are due for a minimal injury year, right?
dobber
July 26, 2018 at 03:16 pm
"We are due for a minimal injury year, right?"
I put in a work order for one.
I was told they'd get on it ASAP.
I'm optimistic.
stockholder
July 26, 2018 at 03:45 pm
Bulaga= 5 mil. he'll be ready.
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 08:01 am
That's a good point: he's playing 2018 for his final year on his contract. He's an easy cut after the season and the Packers save upwards of $5M against the cap if he can't give them a good reason to keep him for 2019.
Bure9620
July 26, 2018 at 03:57 pm
I am skeptical Dr. Mckenzie given his conservative nature would have such a prognosis already for Bulaga 10 months removed from an ACL. I will believe it when I see it. Maybe he came up with a killer HGH burger recipe.????
TKWorldWide
July 27, 2018 at 01:45 pm
You mean the same guy who FORCED poor #80 to play last year even though he was badly injured??
(Notice I didn’t even use the name? Didn’t want to choke on it.)
Bure9620
July 27, 2018 at 08:21 pm
Still can't believe that ass counts against out dead money this year, waste of $6 mil
Lare
July 26, 2018 at 05:53 pm
Bulaga may be ready for the start of the season, but his history suggests he won't make it through the entire season without being injured again.
Hopefully a viable replacement can be identified through the training camp practices.
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 08:05 am
The injuries he gets (ankles and knees rolled up on) suggest either he just doesn't move his feet very well and gets caught up in the trash, or he suffers from bad luck. I would argue those two probably go together to some degree. He was never terribly quick...strength, tenacity and technique are his game.
I think Obi Wan might have been talking about Bulaga when he said: "He's more machine now than man." Hopefully Bulaga will become a little more "twisted and evil".
Andrew Lloyd Peth
July 27, 2018 at 08:16 am
This is great news, but I hope we don't rush him. Bulaga is pretty fragile these days. Week 1 isn't critical, but at least he doesn't look bound for a 6-week PUP.
I was thrilled to see Spriggs get the start on Day 1 of camp while Bulaga rehabs. This shows, at least initially, his added muscle and work on technique are paying dividends.
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 08:19 am
Either that, or it's a wishful "social promotion" for #78. I agree: it would be nice if he turned that corner.
I don't think Bulaga would play much in the preseason if he were 100%, and likely doesn't need a huge amount of practice time to be ready for the regular season. Slow and steady makes sense, but as I understand, his knee should be structurally sound at this point. It's all about regaining flexibility and confidence in it.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
July 27, 2018 at 08:35 am
Agreed. However, I'm a bit surprised at the non-social demotion, initially, of Josh Jones. That one certainly doesn't play to the crowd.
I presume this has more to do with experience than anything else, but it was a surprise. It's the opposite of Spriggs's treatment.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
July 27, 2018 at 08:38 am
How about the 1st Day dominance of guys like Kevin King (save one mistake), Trevor Davis, and J'Mon Moore?
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 09:50 am
I'm encouraged by what seems to be almost instant chemistry between ARod and Graham. When you're paying an aging TE that much to essentially replace a fan favorite WR, it's good to know that he's on the same page as your star QB.
TKWorldWide
July 27, 2018 at 09:55 am
Instant chemistry gonna getcha
Gonna knock you off your feet
Better recognize your (receivers)
Everyone you meet
Andrew Lloyd Peth
July 27, 2018 at 10:15 am
I expected the Rodgers-Graham chemistry, so while nice, it didn't move the needle for me.
But when it came to which receivers would come out of the gates hot, or how King would progress, I wasn't sure what to expect.
dobber
July 27, 2018 at 10:22 am
Very true, but we know Graham is going to play a lot, while the young WRs are going to be jockeying for their place in the pecking order. It's reassuring to see that he's already getting comfortable.
With the young guys, we'll have to see if it's a flash or if it sustains (on all counts). The best thing for this offense (and for the defensive backfield, too), long-term, is as you've said in the past: the young talent has to play well right now.
TKWorldWide
July 27, 2018 at 11:07 am
And the old talent better get with it too.