Nick Collins To Go On Injured Reserve
The Packers Pro Bowl safety is lost for the year.
By PackerAaron
Mike McCarthy opened his afternoon press conference with some very sobering news.
Veteran safety Nick Collins is out for the year with a neck injury.
McCarthy said Collins:
...has a neck brace on and he's walking around. You would never know he has a serious injury.
He's a heck of a football player, he's a true team guy... He was on pace to possibly have a Hall of Fame career.
After that McCarthy was asked if this could possibly be a career ending injury. McCarthy said it was too early to say.
McCarthy also noted that he was not sure if Collins would need surgery, and that would be part of the evaluation process. Collins will be seeing specialists before a decision is made.
Charlie Peprah will take Collins' place in the starting lineup, according to McCarthy. "We have all the confidence in the world in Charlie" said McCarthy.
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Comments (60)
September 19, 2011 at 03:19 pm
Meh. Get well soon Nick.
September 19, 2011 at 03:21 pm
If this means he's walking away from the game I'm happy as hell he's walking.
September 19, 2011 at 03:25 pm
+1
September 19, 2011 at 03:26 pm
Spot. On.
September 19, 2011 at 04:38 pm
+1
September 19, 2011 at 07:10 pm
Add my +1. Spot on. We'll miss him badly though hopefully it's just for this year.
September 19, 2011 at 03:21 pm
Super Bummer!
BTW, where's the little ambulance icon?
September 19, 2011 at 03:24 pm
I got a little worked up about this. Had a deja vu moment. Then I thought, its a big loss, and thats okay. Next man up? Charlie "salt and Peprah"! Go get 'em Charlie.
Go Pack Go
September 19, 2011 at 03:27 pm
Darren Sharper anyone?
PackerAaron
September 19, 2011 at 03:38 pm
Um, no.
September 19, 2011 at 03:43 pm
He's one of da hahhdest hitting safties in da league!!
September 19, 2011 at 03:57 pm
But no match for Greg Jennings, when he puts the team on his back.
September 19, 2011 at 03:43 pm
Like as a coach?
September 19, 2011 at 03:53 pm
Um no again.
September 19, 2011 at 04:44 pm
Completely different role.
We already have two guys playing the role Sharper is good at. Woodson in the LOS and Burnett deeper.
We need someone able to play deep constantly, someone great at playing the ball in the air.
It'll be very interesting to see who replaces Collins at that role. Hope it's not Peprah, as he is terrible at that.
The best player to do it is Woodson, but that would be taking away from what he does best, playing in the LOS.
My guess is Burnett moves over (and gets a lecture of being assignment sure) and Peprah takes on Burnett's role.
I fully expect Capers to be a lot more conservative during this transition period.
And I really, really hope that this isn't a career-ending injury. There's already been one elite safety lost in this era. Of course, the fact that Collins can walk is the most important thing, but he's too good of a talent to see him being forced to quit.
Get well Nick, still many rings to earn!
September 19, 2011 at 03:31 pm
What happens to the roster spot? Does Bush become emergency safety and they back-fill for depth elsewhere?
September 19, 2011 at 04:01 pm
Peprah is solid. So is MD Jennings. Woody can also play safety if House can step up at CB.
Then there's also Anthony Levine on the PS. As for the roster spot, we only have 8 Olinemen...
September 19, 2011 at 08:16 pm
Levine is not on the PS Brandian Ross is
September 19, 2011 at 03:33 pm
it may not be "manly" to admit, but i cried seeing him yesterday...im glad hes better now
September 19, 2011 at 03:35 pm
Terrible news but glad he's okay. We love you Nick.
Ironically, it's the same field his 2005 draft-mate Terrence Murphy had his career forever altered with a neck injury.
September 19, 2011 at 05:40 pm
didn't know that. What is Mr. Murphy doing now?
September 19, 2011 at 05:49 pm
I believe he's working in real estate down in Texas.
September 19, 2011 at 03:40 pm
First and foremost I'm glad he will be okay. I'd be very upset if he can't play again, but his health is so much more important. He's been an amazing Packer for us, and will be missed tremendously this year. Here's to a full Recovery for Nicky.
That being said, this is easily worse than any injury we had last year.
September 19, 2011 at 03:42 pm
Damn...such a great, great football player. Prayers of thanks that he's ok, followed by prayers for Nick that this is not the end.
September 19, 2011 at 03:45 pm
and jeremy thompson two years ago. if football means changing he way of life, walk away now nick. u helped us a ton
September 19, 2011 at 03:48 pm
Expletive, expletive, harsher expletive.
As others have already said, it's great that he's up and walking. Hopes and prayers that his career isn't over but if so he's at least doing it on his own two feet.
Woodson to safety?????
September 19, 2011 at 03:56 pm
Terrible shame, but it's fantastic he is walking about. Any word on the severity of pickett's injury?
September 19, 2011 at 03:59 pm
This really sounds like it may be the last time Collins plays football.
Not claiming to know anything about spines/necks, but it can't be good if he is walking/moving fine (thank god!), but immediately ruled out for the year. Prayers to Nick and hope that's not the case!
September 19, 2011 at 04:03 pm
Is anyone getting sick of this staff understating the severity of injuries? The injury reporting rules are in place for a reason.
September 19, 2011 at 04:28 pm
I may have missed it, but I didn't see the staff report anything about Collins. All I had seen was various reports saying that he had feeling in all of his extremities, which I think made most of us think it wasn't a big deal (or as big as it could have been at least).
September 19, 2011 at 04:39 pm
I'd rather they not say anything publicly about the injuries of players. It only lets the opposing team gameplan for your weaknesses. Of course this would never happen in the NFL for entertainment purposes such as fantasy and the association they've got with their media sources.
September 19, 2011 at 05:20 pm
And what reason, exactly, is that? Beyond fantasy and gambling, what is the rational reason that injuries must be reported fully and accurately when in any other situation, this would HIPAA-protected info?
I get seriously annoyed when people complain about how and to what degree teams release information. They shouldn't have to release any info, period. And if you gripe about the way a player is playing and argue "Well, if only I had known he was playing injured, I wouldn't have complained", what kind of fan are you?
September 19, 2011 at 07:45 pm
It's to keep the influence of organized crime away from the league, at least ostensibly. The point being that everyone should have the same accurate information about the injury status of the players.
September 20, 2011 at 08:11 am
not to be obnoxious, but I'd point out that HIPAA only applies to HIPAA covered entities - which the NFL is not.
PackerAaron
September 20, 2011 at 08:29 am
Not to mention, every player waives HIPPA rights when they sign their contracts. (There is standard language written in)
September 19, 2011 at 04:15 pm
I'm so glad to hear he's able to walk around , we love you nick get well soon and if it means you have to walk away do it with your head held high
September 19, 2011 at 04:16 pm
Do IR player saleries count against the cap?
September 19, 2011 at 04:27 pm
You insensitive bastard... I hope not.
September 19, 2011 at 04:26 pm
SON OF A BITCH. Somebody should check in on RS... Huge collins guy...
Make it happen Charlie.
GBP 4 LIFE
September 19, 2011 at 04:48 pm
I'm here. And very worried.
September 19, 2011 at 04:34 pm
James jones straight up for reed or troy...
September 19, 2011 at 05:43 pm
Why not J.Jones to safety? Aren't defensive backs where they put the WR's that can't catch :)
September 19, 2011 at 06:56 pm
Thats a helluva point, I like it.
September 19, 2011 at 04:41 pm
This is incredibly depressing. At least for his sake, if he does have to hang them up, he went out a pro bowler and a champion.
September 19, 2011 at 04:43 pm
The curse of #36.
I listened to bits and pieces of the press conference on the radio and afterward, they made an observation that Mike McCarthy never did say that Collins would be put on injured reserve. Of course, all signs point to him being held out for the year after future tests.
Yet I'm still holding on to a sliver of hope to see Collins man the field in the playoffs this year! Get well soon Nick, and do it as safely as you can!
September 19, 2011 at 04:50 pm
No way that happens.
If it does, I'm flying to wherever the Packers will be playing to see it live. And I'm buying a 36 jersey (might do it anyway, just not sure if I'll put Collins on the back).
September 19, 2011 at 04:43 pm
Ugh, what a way for him to go. I'm sincerely glad he's up and walking around. If this is the end, God bless him. What a talent and what a stud. I've always really liked him.
Re: discussions of roster moves - I wouldn't be surprised at all if they fill his roster spot with a player who doesn't even play in the secondary.
September 19, 2011 at 04:47 pm
No pass rush and Collins is out for the year. Think I need a beer tonight. Capers will have to dig into his bag of tricks.
September 19, 2011 at 04:53 pm
Now that we know he's okay and able to walk/move, the first question we should all be asking is, does Nick get to be included in the Super Bowl team photo next February?
September 19, 2011 at 04:55 pm
As soon as I saw the replay, while it wasn't the same, I immediately thought about Sterling Sharpe. My sincerest hopes that Nick is able to make a full recovery. This is one of those times where, while we know him because he is a Packer, the Packers come second. Good luck to him and his family.
September 19, 2011 at 05:08 pm
Classy thing the Pack did putting him on the IR. Don't know if all other teams would do the same considering Nick "seems ok". Sometimes you have to do the right thing and protect a player from himself and I'm guessing Collins would try to play again this year if given the chance. Good luck Nick whether you play football again or not. If the worst comes about at least you can always relish the pick-six in the SB.
September 19, 2011 at 05:14 pm
Hope he's alright, but MM's comment about how nick "WAS" on his way to a HOF career seems to spell out that Nick Collins will most likely NOT be playing football any more.
Enjoy your retirement, Nick.
Now the Packers need to find another safety with Nick Collin's range. Problem is, there's only three safeties in the league that had that kind of range. One was Collins. The second guy is already on our team. The third guy isn't leaving Pittsburgh until he retires.
September 19, 2011 at 05:41 pm
Man this is horrible news. Collins was on his way to become one of the all-time packer greats. He cannot be replaced.
September 19, 2011 at 07:02 pm
I know what we went through last year both the sheer number and caliber of players lost, but I contend none of them were this big. Thoughts? Does anybody have a silver lining, positive spin out there? I need a god damn silver lining here.
GBP 4 LIFE
September 19, 2011 at 08:36 pm
Got it... We may just have to win a lot of shootouts, thankfully we have the firepower to do just that. The way our D has been hemorrhaging yardage WITH collins, well, Get yourself some tums boys, could get interesting.
September 20, 2011 at 07:17 am
The silver lining is that Burnett could turn into a hell of a player after getting thrown in the fire like this.
September 20, 2011 at 09:13 am
Not worried about Morgan, it's the other 50% of the back end that concerns me.
September 19, 2011 at 07:22 pm
Random fact, the guy collins collided with jonathan stewart played high school ball literally five minutes from my house, mike sellars too.
September 19, 2011 at 07:50 pm
These guys earn every $.
From the lowest to the highest paid, from the worst to the best..they put on more than a helmet...they put it all on the line, between the lines, on every play. Every play.
God Speed to #36!
September 19, 2011 at 07:55 pm
Injuries are nothing new to this team! Every one has to step it up like last year.