Packers Daily Links: Sherrod's Season Officially Ends
Offensive lineman Derek Sherrod remained on the reserve/PUP list on Tuesday as his window to return had closed. That and more in today's Daily Links...
The Packers held out hope as long as possible that they might be able to use 2011 first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod this season by placing him on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but those hopes officially came to an end on Tuesday when he remained on the reserve/PUP list. "Sherrod is recovering from a severe leg injury — he broke both bones in lower right leg last December — and after spending all season on PUP was able to practice in a limited role the last two weeks," writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "However, he still was noticeably gimpy at times and is not nearly ready to help the Packers’ short-handed offensive line this season." The Packers could have used a healthy Sherrod this season, but a half-healthy lineman is of no use. They can only hope he's ready to play at a high level starting next season.
More on Derek Sherrod comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com.
In terms of good news, wide receiver Greg Jennings is a certainty to play against the Vikings on Sunday barring any setback. "Packers coach Mike McCarthy said during a press conference Tuesday that the question with Jennings, who has missed the last seven games, is how many snaps he'll be able to handle against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Lambeau Field," writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. Jennings looks to be a full participant in practice this week. He's not going to play every play from scrimmage on Sunday, but as long as he progressively gets better and plays more every week, the Packers will be in good shape.
More on Greg Jennings comes from the Press-Gazette, Associated Press, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Bleacher Report.
At the very least, running back Cedric Benson won't be practicing this week. "Under the NFL's new IR exemption rule, Benson is allowed to return to practice after six weeks and to the games after eight weeks," writes Tom Silverstein at JSOnline. "Thus, he'd be eligible to play Dec. 9 against the Detroit Lions. For now, everything is still on hold." Mike McCarthy indicated during Tuesday's press conference that the team will have more information on Benson on Wednesday, which could mean he'll need surgery on his injured foot. That is merely speculation, however. But it doesn't seem as if there's anything else they can possibly announce.
More on Cedric Benson comes from the Press-Gazette and AllGreenBayPackers.com.
More about the potential return of all the injured Packers players comes from Fox Sports Wisconsin.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, during his weekly radio show on the ESPN Radio affiliate in Milwaukee (540 AM WAUK), had positive things to say about tight end Jermichael Finley, calling him a good teammate and discussing an article in Packer Plus about their relationship the previous week. "Rodgers said Tuesday that what Finley said in the story didn’t have any impact on their relationship," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. "The two have been meeting each Saturday night before games to go over the offensive game plan and discuss nuances of certain plays." Finley, for what it's worth, has put together back-to-back good games.
Aaron Rodgers also talked about several other topics, including a poor performance against the Giants, their choice to go for it on fourth downs and his relationship with 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
The performance of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers while in the shotgun formation is analyzed at ESPN.com and the JSOnline.
Scouting reports on the Minnesota Vikings come from Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel and Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette.
Items on Mike McCarthy's playcalling and the weaknesses of the Packers come from AllGreenBayPackers.com.
Mike McCarthy won't make any sweeping changes, writes Paul Imig of Fox Sport Wisconsin.
Cheesehead TV's own Zach Kruse looks at the adversity the Packers are facing in his weekly column at JSOnline.
Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler breaks down some Xs and Os and answers a few questions in his weekly video series at JSOnline.
A Christmas tree has been installed outside Lambeau Field as a video from Fox 11 shows.
The weekly Tuesdays with McCarthy feature appears at Packers.com.
Comments from Mike McCarthy's Tuesday press conference appear at JSOnline.
The Packers fell to ninth place in the AP's weekly Pro32 poll.
The Packers official website has items on Herb Adderly and Dave Robinson's return to Lambeau Field this weekend and their annual Toys for Tots collection.
Video: Randall Cobb talks to Bob Costas of NBC Sports...
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Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (21)
November 28, 2012 at 10:23 am
I half-think that the only reason Sherrod wasn't placed on IR at the beginning of this season was to allow him at least SOME practice this season. He wouldn't have been allowed to get any seasoning at all and would have been way behind the curve for next season had they not at least opened this small window for him this year.
November 28, 2012 at 01:18 pm
good point
November 28, 2012 at 10:24 am
Bum Bum Bum... another one bites the dust.
November 28, 2012 at 10:28 am
I get that breaking both of the bones in the lower leg, especially for a guy weighing 320 lbs, is a severe injury. But 11 months and he's still noticeably gimpy? Is there any kind of precedent for this?
November 28, 2012 at 10:33 am
It's not uncommon for someone as large as Sherrod to take over a year to recover from basically severing their entire base.
November 28, 2012 at 10:35 am
I'm an Administrator at a large surgery center, we do a fair amount of Sports Medicine, nothing as sever as what happened to Sherrod. Bear in mind, he had emergency surgery for the break of both his tibia and fibia. The break was supposedly fairly clean, but that is a seriously traumatic injury.
Personally, I'm surprised he would take any less than 18 months of full rehab. Quite frankly, I'm surprised he even suited up for a practice. That's serious trauma, not an injury you manage or massage somebody back into service.
November 28, 2012 at 10:39 am
Good insight. Thanks, CSS and packsmack.
I was worried there was something else/bigger going on here that we weren't being told about.
November 28, 2012 at 01:22 pm
Curious whether there is ANY precedent for a big guy coming back from an injury like this at all. Is this guy's career in jeopardy? Hard to think that it's not.
November 28, 2012 at 02:21 pm
I still get chills and something puckers everytime I think about how much force it takes to snap both the tibia and fibula. It is a horrible injury that takes time to heal.
November 28, 2012 at 11:09 am
Just saw the release of Babin on tv. I would just like to say....please please please Ted get him.......please! Even if its just a season.....get him!
November 28, 2012 at 11:23 am
How would he fit at in the 3-4? He's around 270lbs, which is too big for OLB and too small for DE.
Also, the Eagles, whose defense is a pile of hot garbage, didn't have any use for him. That should say something.
November 28, 2012 at 11:36 am
Funny, I had the same reservations about Nick Perry. :-)
November 28, 2012 at 11:47 am
Nick Perry can set the edge against the run and rush off the outside edge. Babin isn't even a speed-bump against the run, though he did look like one the last few years as teams trampled him. Babin also can't line up off the tackles shoulder, he gets mauled. His only move is to line up as wide as possible (wide-9) and sprint up-field.
He's awful.
November 28, 2012 at 01:21 pm
you're right.
no way he could play at the level of a zombo or so'oto.
no one released from another team could possibly make it as a Packer.
the Packers' roster is just that dominant.
whatever.
November 28, 2012 at 11:14 am
Nvm he won't drop to us :(
November 28, 2012 at 11:28 am
I doubt he gets claimed with that contract.
November 28, 2012 at 03:43 pm
Yeah, scratch that.
November 28, 2012 at 04:26 pm
Jacksonville be the destination to waste whatever talent he does have.
Glad to get Jennings back. We need him down this crucial stretch.
November 28, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Round 1: tackle .round 2: center. round 3: running back. Sound good? I was also interested in notre dames TE. But finleys looking aggresive lately which is good.
November 29, 2012 at 02:23 am
That Notre Dame TE is a beast. He won't last long.
November 29, 2012 at 04:58 pm
Sadly