Packers Daily Links: Tauscher Could Miss Extended Time

Injury news to Mark Tauscher highlights our daily look into the world of Green Bay football...

A report in the National Football Post did nothing to ease the fears of Packers fans. "Right tackle Mark Tauscher was held out of practice on Wednesday and listed on the injury report with a shoulder issue. According to an NFL source, there is fear that Tauscher’s injury is serious and he could wind up being sidelined for a significant period of time," writes Brad Biggs. The severity of Tauscher's injury seems to differ depending on who you talk to, however.

Reports from local beat writers seem to indicate that Tauscher's injury isn't season-ending. "According to the team source, Tauscher won’t play against the Redskins but is hoping to try to play against Miami on Oct. 17," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin. "The team figures to reevaluate Tauscher after this week but it’s possible he’ll be out until the team’s Nov. 14 bye if the shoulder injury is deemed serious enough." The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Greg Bedard also wrote on Twitter that he's heard that Tauscher's injury will keep him out no more than 2-4 weeks.

The assumption is that Bryan Bulaga will be making his first NFL start at right tackle on Sunday. "Neither [offensive coordinator Joe] Philbin nor offensive line coach James Campen would confirm that Bulaga would start," writes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel," but McCarthy said Wednesday that Bulaga would have been the right tackle in previous games if something had happened to Tauscher." At the very least, T.J. Lang should be active for the first time this season and will likely back up right tackle and right guard.

Brad Jones may get the most playing time at outside linebacker opposite Clay Matthews this week according to Silverstein. "Jones has gotten the vast majority of snaps because Capers wants to see if he's ready to get his job back after being hampered by a shoulder injury the past two weeks. Zombo started each of the last two weeks and showed good pass rush, but the Packers may need more coverage ability this week with Washington's desire to throw to tight ends and backs," writes Silverstein.

Newly elevated linebacker Maurice Simpkins could very well be active on Sunday given the injuries to Brandon Chillar and Nick Barnett at inside linebacker. "Suddenly Simpkins, whom the team signed Aug. 10 when a rash of training-camp injuries struck the linebacker position, is on the verge of playing in Sunday’s game against Washington at FedEx Field, less than four months after playing in the Green Bay Blizzard’s season-ending loss to the Chicago Slaughter," writes Wilde. Simpkins may have a special teams role or two on Sunday if he's active.

Safety is another position with injury concerns and the Packers are considering several options. "Even if the Peprah-Martin-Bush combination is assignment sound, the communication can’t help but be affected," writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "The secondary is likely without nickelback Sam Shields (calf) for a second consecutive week and Bush filled that position against the Lions. Shields normally lines up outside with Charles Woodson inside, but Woodson went back outside to make room for Bush." The assumption is that Peprah will start if he's healthy, but even McCarthy said yesterday that he's not 100% yet.

There appears to be a good chance running back Dimitri Nance will get a few more carries than he has the first couple weeks. "The biggest concern with a new running back is whether he knows the blocking schemes for blitz pick ups," writes Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette. "Edgar Bennett, the Packers’ running backs coach, said Nance now has a good understanding of most of the playbook in that regard." The most offensive snaps Nance has played in a game so far is two. He may exceed that on Sunday.

A good recap of the team's Super Bowl expectations is chronicled by Rob Reischel of Packer Plus (subscription required). "But for the Packers to eventually become anything more than a pretender, there's a laundry list of items they need to clean up. Those include woeful special teams, a ground game bordering on comedic and a defense that's springing holes by the week," writes Reischel. A forgotten reference was Nick Barnett's "Super Bowl or die" proclamations, but still a good recap.

Charlie Peprah's interesting family history is detailed by Chris Jenkins of the Associated Press. "Peprah's grandfather, I.K. Acheampong, rose to power as the head of state in the West African nation of Ghana in 1972," writes Jenkins. "He was removed from office in a coup, then executed in 1979. The family fled to Europe, then the U.S., where Peprah was born and raised in Texas."

Hyperbole is the word at Bitter Border Battle where the Packers are supposedly "Teetering on disaster."

Bleacher Report's Adam Spencer suggest five running backs who could help the Packers.

The Inquisitor asks if Ted Thompson is on the hot seat. Um, no. He's not.

A new exhibit is on display at the Packers Hall of Fame: Pro Football and the American Spirit. Sounds cool.

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Comments (14)

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hyperRevue's picture

October 08, 2010 at 07:52 am

Tauscher injury: blessing in disguise? Or blessing not even in a disguise, just an outright blessing?

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PackerAaron's picture

October 08, 2010 at 08:30 am

Remains to be seen but there's a real chance its the first one...

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CSS's picture

October 08, 2010 at 08:41 am

Have to say, a Wells/Sitton/Bulaga combination on the right side suddenly looks like a capable run-blocking trio. Carter and Orakpo are no slouches, but you can run at them.

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PackerAaron's picture

October 08, 2010 at 10:45 am

Writing about that right now for CHTV Matchup.

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CSS's picture

October 08, 2010 at 10:50 am

Looking forward to it. You can run downhill against the Redskins on that side of the line and, if you can get to the 2nd level, there's a lot of room to run.

Redskins ILB's aren't built for this defense. They can be washed out by lineman that get to the 2nd level.

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Mr. Big's picture

October 08, 2010 at 08:37 am

I am not worried about the number injuries the Pack is having. I seem to believe that we will overcome them. They seem to be in positions that we can and will adjust to. I may not understand the complete ramifications of all these players going down- but I am not so worried. We still have our core game changers.

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Ron LC's picture

October 08, 2010 at 09:07 am

I don't think any serious fan of the Packers expected Tauscher and or Clifton would get through the season. What made that thought tolerable was Bulaga and Lang sitting in the wings. Unfortunately TJ has been inactive virtually the whole season and now may be called on before he is ready. Let's hope Clifton can stay on his feet until TJ is ready.

The biggest concern? Plugging the giant holes in the pass defense. Dom, in case you haven't noticed, the middle of the field is wide open on every play. GB made a backup Lion QB with few accomplichments look like an All-Pro. Now you have to do it without your starting Safeties.

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hyperRevue's picture

October 08, 2010 at 10:04 am

Bedard just tweeted that Blackmon can't re-sign with the Packers until after Week 9. I had thought it was Week 6. What's the explanation?

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Brian Carriveau's picture

October 08, 2010 at 10:07 am

It all has to do with the injury settlement.

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hyperRevue's picture

October 08, 2010 at 10:20 am

How does that work exactly? Is the amount of time that has to elapse for an injury-settlement player to be able to re-sign with the team negotiable or standard? And if it's negotiable, what's the rationale behind the 9-week window as opposed to 6-weeks or even 4? What's in it for the player and what's in it for the team?

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CSS's picture

October 08, 2010 at 10:41 am

PFF quarterly grades has Josh Sitton as the best run-blocking gaurd in the NFL through 4 weeks:

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2010/10/08/the-pff-all-pros-first-q...

Cheers!

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CSS's picture

October 08, 2010 at 10:46 am

Further down in the aforementioned article -

Tramon Williams, Cullen Jenkins and Clay Matthews all get their due recognition further down.

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gbslapshot's picture

October 08, 2010 at 01:38 pm

Well since the inquistor did not like my post to them and erased it I will post it here instead. This is for all of you Packer fans that are upset we did not get Marshawn Lynch. Im just trying to figure out what it is that makes you like Marshawn, is it the fact that he was caught in a running Mercedes with grass and a GUN? Or is it the way he was accused of stealing $20 from the wife of a police officer? Or is it the way he supposedly hit a girl and left the scene when he was drunk? I dont understand how any of you could think he was good for the Packers. We dont want to run a team for criminals here in GB. I am glad TT didnt give in to Aaron and grab this kid.

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gbslapshot's picture

October 08, 2010 at 02:22 pm

Inquisitor didnt get rid of my post but I might as well post it here yet also.

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