Neal Returns To Practice
Mike Neal was back on the practice field today for the first time since injuring his knee earlier this summer during training camp.
By PackerAaron
It was just individual drills but this afternoon saw the return of defensive end Mike Neal to the practice field since the second year player out of Purdue went down in a heap in a non-contact drill during training camp.
While his participation in practice by no means indicates that he will be ready to play this week, Neal was not ruled out for Monday's game against the Vikings, as left tackle Chad Clifton and outside linebacker Frank Zombo were by head coach Mike McCarthy when he met with reporters after practice this afternoon.
Before his injury this summer, the Packers had been counting on Neal to provide the inside pass rush that the since departed Cullen Jenkins had provided the last few years. Neal, who battled injury last year as well, looked promising in that role against the Lions and Redskins in his only two game appearances in 2010.
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Comments (16)
November 10, 2011 at 02:59 pm
Giddy up
November 10, 2011 at 03:21 pm
Did he walk on water?
November 10, 2011 at 03:55 pm
That's the rumor!
November 10, 2011 at 03:23 pm
Keep him away from those damn tackling dummies.
November 10, 2011 at 03:37 pm
woohoo! I don't expect him this week, but definitely against Tampa. Let's do it!
November 10, 2011 at 04:02 pm
Can someone remind me what exactly happened again? Did he tear cartilage? He had surgery, right?
PackerAaron
November 10, 2011 at 04:31 pm
He did have surgery, on September 13th, after trying to come back from what the Packers termed a "knee sprain"
November 11, 2011 at 09:06 pm
He had "loose bodies" floating in his knee joint, which means little pieces of cartilage or tissue broke or tore off. Not easily detected with MRI. His symptoms would wax and wane because the loose bodies would migrate around the knee joint and cause irritation/swelling at times if they became lodged in certain spots.
November 10, 2011 at 04:08 pm
I watched the San Diego game on NFL Rewind. Mathews is hurt, late in the game you will see him chasing the play with a very obvious limp.
November 10, 2011 at 04:56 pm
Neal's spent too much time in the Justin Harrell commemorative hot tub.... It's time he made his name and started destroying Vikings.
November 10, 2011 at 09:04 pm
Some of you people are just unbelievable.
November 11, 2011 at 12:09 am
+.5+.5
November 11, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Add my +1.
Is Neal being kept of the field by a minor injury. No. Is there any suggestion that he is not desperate to get back onto the pitch. No. Has he contributed to his downfall somehow. No. So why the constant snipes by a section of Packer fans.
On the tackling dummy thing anyone who has played sport at any level should know that contact doesn't necessarily equal injury. I've seen countless injuries caused by minimal to no contact. Worst injury I've ever suffered myself was caused by studs (cleats) getting caught in hard ground with no one within 5 yards of me. Didn't make it any less painful.
On Neal's toughness he played the last 3 games of his junior year at Purdue through a ton labrum.
Cut the kid some slack..
November 12, 2011 at 01:16 pm
But he's not tough enough and who the hell does he think he is anyway, sitting on his ass like a lazy bastard getting all that money from MY TEAM!!!!!
November 11, 2011 at 12:00 am
Wake us when Neal actually gets in a game, please. The earliest will very likely be post-Thanksgiving game v. Detroit.
Not sure how Neal can face teammates like Tramon Williams---nerve damage in shoulder and Burnett, playing one-armed through a broken hand.
Bulaga, who fortunately didn't require surgery, was chomping at the bit to come back. Neal's played in a grand total of two games, so far in two season's so I think the criticism is justified.
With so many tough guys on the Packers, a training-room regular really stands out.
November 11, 2011 at 08:02 am
Read PackersRS comment above, applies to you.