Casey Hayward Ruled Out of Season Opener vs. 49ers
The second-year cornerback is nursing a hamstring injury re-aggravated during the preseason.
Just like on Monday, CB Casey Hayward (hamstring) was the only player not practicing for the #Packers.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 4, 2013
Other than cornerback Casey Hayward, the Packers are a picture of health.
According to reports, Hayward was the only player on the team's active roster not to practice on Wednesday, same as Monday.
With six interceptions in his rookie season, the Packers are a better team with a healthy Casey Hayward, but if there's one position on the roster where they can afford an injury, it's probably at cornerback.
Between Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Davon House, Micah Hyde and Jarrett Bush in the secondary, the Packers are covered.
There's still two more days of practice before the Packers take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 of the regular season, so perhaps Hayward there's time for Hayward to return.
Head coach Mike McCarthy will give an update after practice, when the team will release its first injury report of the 2013 season.
UPDATE: Casey Hayward has been ruled out of season opener against the 49ers.
Comments (46)
September 04, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Hyde needs to move to safety. Bush couldn't cover an offensive lineman if he ran a route. House is up and down. Williams, Shields and Hayward are our legit corners. Get well soon Casey!
September 04, 2013 at 02:40 pm
So you want to go into San Fransisco with Williams, Shields, House and Bush as CB's. With Burnett, Hyde, McMillan, Jennings, Banjo as safety's?
Why do we need 5 safety's? Hyde is perfect right now in as a Nickel CB.
Once Hayward comes back I see them using Hyde in Packages as the CB/S combo, but Hyde is not a pure Safety as of this year anyways. Down the road yes, but not now.
September 04, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Hopefully Hayward can come back soon
September 04, 2013 at 12:50 pm
There are a lot of things I don't anticipate reading, but somewhere near the mid/top of that list is, "and Jarrett Bush in the secondary, the Packers are covered."
I hope that it's correct.
Brian Carriveau
September 04, 2013 at 12:54 pm
I wouldn't put too much stock into Bush being the fifth of five corners beyond Hayward. He won't see playing time on defense other than the short-yardage packages.
September 04, 2013 at 02:42 pm
Its why I have been trying to remove the CB label. His title should be Special Teams player only. He is an emergency DB only.
September 04, 2013 at 04:00 pm
Amazingly, he started at CB for the 49er game last year (week 1).
September 04, 2013 at 04:33 pm
Was he the one who let Randy Moss just run into the end zone?
September 04, 2013 at 01:16 pm
Hopefully we don't need him. Go Pack!
September 04, 2013 at 01:46 pm
I don't think highly of any of them. If they were tall, fast and could cover and tackle they would not have been available to the Pack in the first place.
These guys came cheap and have been victimized by even the worst QB's in the league the past two years so why do we expect anything different this year.
September 07, 2013 at 11:18 am
If they were tall, fast and could cover and tackle, they'd be 49ers - just ask Cow.
September 04, 2013 at 01:51 pm
Sucks. Hayward's our best corner.
September 04, 2013 at 01:54 pm
Best slot corner...
September 04, 2013 at 01:54 pm
They'll be fine with Hyde in the slot for a week or two. No need to rush Hayward back.
September 04, 2013 at 02:50 pm
I think Hayward will be out until after the Bye..
I agree, that Hyde will fill in nicely. He won't be perfect, but he will be able to fill in.
September 04, 2013 at 02:53 pm
I think Hyde is the X factor against the 49ers on defense. I think his ability to blitz from the slot and tackle, will be huge at stopping Kaepernick.
September 04, 2013 at 05:56 pm
Agreed!! We didn't have that last year in the final playoff game. Hyde looks like a young Charles Woodson. If he can do what Charles did in his youth (and I think he can) Kaeperdick will have a much tougher time moving the chains. Hyde seems much more physical than Hayward when it comes to tacking and that's what we need this game. Physical players. Go get em' Hyde!!
September 05, 2013 at 11:04 am
Thats what I was thinking,, May be a blessing in disguise because finesse is not going to cut it. Same for Bak
September 07, 2013 at 09:09 am
Exactly! Hayward is a cover corner. One that works perfect in the slot. While I'd rather see Casey out there, I like the physical part of Hydes game, especially near the line of scrimmage and it's there where he'll be most valuable against the 49ers. If Williams, Shields, and House can't cover Bolden and whomever else the 49ers send out, then we have bigger issues than we thought. In this game, Hyde will be just fine. Damn, I'd love to see him get a nice shot and sack on Kapernick!
September 07, 2013 at 10:44 am
Actually Boldin works primarily out of the slot, so Hyde will be matched up against Boldin most of the day. They'll use younger faster WR outside, except those WR aren't very talented. Hyde will have his hands full w/ Boldin most of the day. Hyde being a little bigger and better tackler (not that Hayward is bad) will lend well to blitzing and tackling Kaep.
September 04, 2013 at 02:20 pm
Niners WRs aren't good enough to need more than 3 capable CBs available. Ain't worried. More concerned with having sure tackling from the position. (Looking at you Tramon)
September 04, 2013 at 02:36 pm
+1 Setting aside TE Vernon Davis, the 49ers receiving corps present you with one over-the-hill receiver and one rookie.
September 04, 2013 at 04:02 pm
I'm curious who covers Davis on Sunday. We don't exactly have a great track record covering big TEs.
PackerAaron
September 04, 2013 at 04:59 pm
Agreed. It will be an interesting matchup, esp when he splits out wide as a WR. Will it be a safety? Can't be a linebacker. A corner? He's a nightmare for the Packers' defense.
September 04, 2013 at 07:13 pm
For a while there Woody was our go-to guy to cover big TEs. Now? Not sure who has the skills to do that.
September 04, 2013 at 02:52 pm
Boldin is still a very good WR. Don't sleep on him.
September 04, 2013 at 03:14 pm
You pick up speed after u go over the hill.
September 05, 2013 at 09:56 am
His game has never been based on speed. Physical, great hands, and ball skills...
He ran a 4.7 40 coming out if I remember right.
September 04, 2013 at 03:15 pm
"Very good" is a stretch. He's average who had a good playoff run.
September 07, 2013 at 10:51 am
Boldin is very crafty, very physical and great after the catch. He has never had good timed speed, but plays slightly faster than he times. That along w/ his strength and physical presence make him a difficult cover. He is older and lost a step, but its a step he never really had anyway. Not as good as he once was but still dangerous w/ the ball in his hands.
September 04, 2013 at 03:19 pm
He's a glorified tight end. Crazy ball skills though. Will have a solid, if unspectacular, year.
September 04, 2013 at 03:23 pm
Good info here on Boldin: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/53824/boldin-and-ha...
Boldin averaged 62 catches, 882 yards and 5 TDs over 3 years in Baltimore.
September 05, 2013 at 09:59 am
I didn't read the article, but he also had Joe Flacco throwing to him.
September 05, 2013 at 11:44 am
I'm not sure if that's better or worse than his current situation...
September 05, 2013 at 10:50 pm
That is true.
Until last year though, Flacco really never stepped up his game.
I don't know if Boldin will be any good in SF, but I'm just saying, he is a good WR, and not to sleep on him...
September 05, 2013 at 11:12 am
Same here. If the defenses does not come in with a huge chip playing with an attitude we are in big trouble. Cant imagine that they will not and I think and hope that is the difference. If this is not a hit them in the chin game I do not know what is. So much can turn on a dime if we play angry. Tackle,Tackle Tackle. Stop the run. Look at the muffed punt last year. Go Pack Go here we go!!!
September 05, 2013 at 11:45 am
I liked the attitude they had during the Seahawks preseason game - gives me hope they'll show up nasty this weekend.
September 04, 2013 at 05:11 pm
In the fifth paragraph are you specifically speaking to the people of Hayward ,Wi?
September 06, 2013 at 05:56 am
I was trying to figure that out too. My money is on an editing mistake.
September 05, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Aside from the uncertainty on the oline, the only.other thing that concerns me is Mashe Potato Mikes and Domfounded Caers inability to make in game.adjustments before its too late. The in-game adjustments made quickly by Harbaugh last year after the Shields pick turned into 180+ yards rushing for Kap. MPM keeps to his game plan whereas it needs to be fluid. And I don't mean abandoning the run at the first sign of deficit. The skill players will be ready. The defense will he hungry. Lets Hope the oline is able and hope the coaching is intelligent.
September 05, 2013 at 06:23 pm
haven't heard anything on datone jones - what's his status? Is he starting?
September 05, 2013 at 06:30 pm
He's good to go but I doubt he'll start.
September 06, 2013 at 05:55 am
Losing our slot CB is not going to make this any easier. I'm not so concerned about the coverage aspect as I don't believe that SanFran's 3rd WR is a big threat. The part I feel we will miss is Casey's sure tackling.
September 06, 2013 at 09:11 am
Considering Hyde or House will take Haywards place, I think tackling won't be much of an issue, at least for that position.
September 06, 2013 at 09:28 am
Agreed. I'm sure Hayward is a fine tackler, but I never remember it jumping out at me the way it does when Hyde tackles.
The one part of Hyde's game I'm not at all worried about is his tackling.
September 07, 2013 at 11:15 am
Sucks to lose Casey, but based on what we've seen so far, I'm optimistic about Hyde. Nice job by TT in looking past the measureables and finding us another young corner with game.