Packers Hoping 10-Day Break Is Just What the Doctor Ordered

In the buildup to the 195th renewal of the Packers-Bears rivalry, it was clear Green Bay would not be at full strength. With the injury report bursting at the seams heading into their second game in five days, it would come as no surprise if the Packers were simply hoping to survive the Thursday night matchup with a win and better luck on the medical front.

And while they were able to push their record to 3-1 with a blowout victory, the injury bug just wouldn’t stop biting. The hits came early—on the first drive of the game, running back Ty Montgomery left the field with what was later revealed to be broken ribs—and then just kept coming as the night wore on.

Montgomery’s replacement, rookie Jamaal Williams, left in the second quarter with a knee injury. Later in the first half, Josh Jones and Blake Martinez exited, though both were able to return. Joe Thomas, though, was not so lucky after leaving the game with an ankle injury.

The scariest moment of the evening came when Davante Adams took an extremely illegal hit from Chicago’s Danny Trevathan, who launched himself with the crown of his helmet directly into Adams’s forehead. Trevathan was allowed to stay in the game, though it seems extremely likely he will face both a fine and a suspension pending league review. Adams, meanwhile, dropped to the turf immediately and was taken off the field on a stretcher. The team later announced he was taken to Bellin Hospital, where he was being evaluated for a head/neck injury as well as a concussion, and that he was conscious, with movement and feeling in all extremities.

For the Packers, who took the all-time lead in the NFL’s oldest rivalry for the first time since 1932, the injuries suffered Thursday night come in addition to a few key players who were unable to take the field altogether.

Most notably, Green Bay entered the game without the services of both starting tackles—David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga—and were forced to move Lane Taylor to left tackle from his usual guard spot, with Lucas Patrick taking his place. Mike Daniels was also inactive for the second consecutive game, along with cornerback Davon House.

Fortunately, the Packers were able to take advantage of a fairly despondent Bears squad Thursday night, but it’s hard to think anyone associated with the team would deny that their upcoming 10-day layoff is coming just in time.

Green Bay dominated the play from start to finish Thursday night despite a makeshift offensive line, but if the NFL has shown us anything over the years, those kind of cruise-control victories don’t come often and the road will only get tougher as the season wears on.

For their part, however, the Packers took advantage of the opportunity to win a division game at home and finish the first quarter of the season with a 3-1 mark. How the injury report looks at the end of next week will go a long way in determining whether or not this win and a 10-day break were just what the doctor ordered.

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Comments (44)

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CAG123's picture

September 29, 2017 at 11:17 am

I remember making a comment above the Packers getting rid of their conditioning coach Mark Lovat because whatever he's doing isn't working I got dislikes and folks made comments about less practices being a factor but every team is doing less practices and nobody gets banged up like the Packers do constantly we have so many soft tissue injuries every year groin, hamstring, quads it's ridiculous. I was looking forward to the mini bye so the Pack could get some players back and now it's 3 more players with significant injuries (Adams injury aside)

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CAG123's picture

September 29, 2017 at 12:01 pm

Once again all teams have the same cutbacks and it clearly states the packers have more injuries then the NFL average at 19-20 players per year.

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croatpackfan's picture

September 29, 2017 at 02:49 pm

Your statement is alternative fact. Simple and plain. look at Ravens. They have 15 players on IR this season!

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CAG123's picture

September 29, 2017 at 03:39 pm

No it's not. I said "Nobody gets banged up like the Packers CONSTANTLY" that means year after year since 2008 apparently the packers are averaging 19-20 injuries per year which in more than the league average of 15 per year. They have 4 seasons of 25 plus injuries. You're using alternative facts by stating the Ravens for this year.

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Finwiz's picture

September 29, 2017 at 03:45 pm

@CAG - yup!

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dobber's picture

September 29, 2017 at 03:50 pm

Could it be that the Packers have a reputation for being "soft" and other teams try to beat them up in order to beat them?

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Finwiz's picture

September 29, 2017 at 04:15 pm

Half the time I can't ell if you're being sarcastic or not.

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dobber's picture

September 30, 2017 at 06:42 am

Now you're starting to sound like my wife...

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

September 30, 2017 at 11:58 am

But only half the time.

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Turophile's picture

September 30, 2017 at 01:13 am

It's natural that Packers fans are more aware of injuries to their team than other teams. It's also true that they have been hit a bit harder than most teams.

I do wonder if the higher rate of weeks lost is at least partly because the Packers medical staff is very conservative in allowing players to come back, once they are injured. That is not a bad fault, and while players want to play, they also like to know the team places such a high level of importance on their health.

I'm sure they also are comforted by the way the head coach always defers to the medical team's opinion, and abides by it, even when he desperately wants the player back on the field.

Since MM has said the whole business of injury is evaluated in detail at the end of the season - not surprising as it has such an impact on the team - if there were any clear answer to injuries (like fire the training staff), it would have been taken already.

One final thought. Is playing that bit harder than many teams, a contributing factor in injuries ? I have zero proof this is true, and I don't know if the Packers play harder than other teams, but there is a certain mentality within the team that they should always be near the top of the teams competing in the league, and mostly they are.

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ArlenWilliams's picture

October 01, 2017 at 01:42 am

There's a meme going around athletics that stretching before game-time performance wears out muscles. Whether it does or not, it's a must. All it takes is 15 seconds per stretch for the muscles. (The limbering exercises are more for joints, circulation, and firing up the nerve reflexes.)

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Finwiz's picture

September 29, 2017 at 11:27 am

Yes, and I said last week the replacement players used for the injured inactives will also have their share of injuries. So far that is also appearing to be the case.
They have a real problem up there.
You can throw the anomalies at me about broken bones and all, but fact is the majority of these injuries are conditioning related. One can also make the case that poor conditioning slows your reaction to impending contact, as well as compromises the muscles around bone structures.
I've had torn cartilage and ligaments, and the word from the physical therapists was to strengthen the muscles around the joints to compensate.
Don't shoot the messenger, but you can live in the river de-nile if you want to.

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LASVEGAS-TOM's picture

September 29, 2017 at 11:30 am

Agreed!!
LVT

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CAG123's picture

September 29, 2017 at 11:55 am

Exactly soft tissue injuries are a direct relation to poor conditioning alone. Take into account the ankle and knee injuries when you see the player not even touched. Ty at 6'0 foot 215-220 got his ribs broken by KYLE FULLER! KYLE FULLER. Mark Lovat has been there a while maybe it's time for him to go.

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Gianich's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:55 pm

He broke his rib in the first play of the game and played 6 more snaps until he went out after the hit by Fuller. If you think better conditioning (Monty is in freakish shape) and a better training staff can prevent injuries like this well, that is just plain stupid! And you can't cure stupid.

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Finwiz's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:05 pm

Exceptions to every rule. Majority of the problems are related to conditioning. My story and sticking to it!

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John30856's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:38 pm

you got that right

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CAG123's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:48 pm

I could have sworn I said SOFT TISSUE injuries. Comprehend what's being said then reply instead getting all triggered and replying with nonsense. I put Ty's injury in there just to show how Packer players are getting hurt left and right.

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fthisJack's picture

September 29, 2017 at 08:31 pm

sounds like your getting all "triggered' after bringing a broken bone into your soft tissue argument.

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John30856's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:29 pm

how rediculous

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John30856's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:26 pm

Not in the river of denial. You're in the river of not knowing about which you speak

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Finwiz's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:39 pm

Care to expound with more than one sentence to prove your point?
It's easy to say someones wrong, but much more difficult to explain why.

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AFL Ref daughter's picture

September 29, 2017 at 11:47 am

The hit on Adams was absolutely disgusting.

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carusotrap's picture

September 29, 2017 at 11:53 am

So, experts weigh in... Who can we reasonably expect back for DAL?

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CAG123's picture

September 29, 2017 at 11:59 am

Probably everyone that was hurt prior to this game

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Handsback's picture

September 29, 2017 at 12:14 pm

Monty and Adams are going to be missed. Just not sure how long Adams will be out.

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RCPackerFan's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:00 pm

From my understanding he only has a concussion. Which is a really good thing considering it could have been much worse.

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stockholder's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:19 pm

Monty will be missed more. Taking on a Full load is not for the best. It was going to happen and did. Adams is in a contract year. It won't be long.

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GBPDAN1's picture

September 29, 2017 at 03:01 pm

Sitting at 3-1 in spite of all the injuries is great. I would expect everyone back , except Ty and maybe Adams, for the Dallas game. Should be the most healthy this team has been this year? Can't wait to see the offence play with the line intact.

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dobber's picture

September 29, 2017 at 03:06 pm

Very few of the injured players didn't practice prior to the Bears game in some capacity. I think you're right: most hands will be on deck for Dallas.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:19 pm

Davante just tweeted he's home and feeling better.

Let me just be clear since I suspect the NFL has folks who read sites like this.

If that hit from Trevathan is going to be allowed, I'm not sure it's responsible for me to watch football with my child. I'm sure there are a lot of old selfish A holes out there who think I am ruining the game by saying it. I'm sure they think their entertainment value is more important than Davante Adams life. I don't, and I will not send that message to my kid by gawking at it on TV. I love football, but I'm sure I'd be just as happy watching Baseball and Basketball with my kid. Or, maybe we will just go fishing.

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John30856's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:44 pm

Bad hit I agree but there will always be some risk playing football. Maybe you should try watching soccer

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:53 pm

It wasn't a "Bad hit". It was an attack. Accidental hits happen in soccer, and I could accidentally get hit by a car crossing the road. That hit wasn't the result of an accidental risk.

Allowing someone to purposely injure another is different from "some risk".

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dobber's picture

September 29, 2017 at 02:01 pm

Yep. This isn't your grandfather's NFL, anymore, and "risk" in the face of a litigious society has a whole different meaning.

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Tundraboy's picture

October 02, 2017 at 10:30 am

Fishing would be my first choice after the Packers.

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dobber's picture

September 29, 2017 at 01:59 pm

I think the point is that the league allowing this to pass with only a whimper on its part would show that it's truly hypocritical about player safety. Too much has been made about chronic brain injury to allow blatant headhunting to go unpunished. While some may point to the political undercurrents impacting viewership, the CTE scandals and players leaving the game in their primes voluntarily rather than risk later consequences is a bigger concern to the future of the game to me. My suspicion is that the league will overreact with a punishment to Trevathan out of proportion to the offense if only to make an example out of him and to set a precedent for future offenses.

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Since'61's picture

September 29, 2017 at 04:02 pm

Trevathan should be fined and I'm confident that he will be. He should also be suspended without pay for at least the same number of games that Adams misses due to his injury. If the league were to actually take that approach the alleged accidents and "unintentional hits" would stop pretty quickly.
Get well Davante. Thanks, Since '61

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CheesyTex's picture

September 29, 2017 at 07:53 pm

Agree, but... If he is suspended for the next game (Bears play Vikings) it is ironic that his suspension may also hurt the Pack by Bears playing without one of their starting LBs.

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Lphill's picture

September 29, 2017 at 03:44 pm

Story just broke Randall was benched during Bears game and argued with a coach , was sent to locker room and he changed and left lambeau. Time to part ways . Wasted draft pick , maybe Ted should have drafted an actual corner instead of a converted safety .

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Since'61's picture

September 29, 2017 at 04:14 pm

Randall returned to the team this (Friday) morning to clear the air with MM.
I'm not sure why Randall left the team during a game but whatever the reason he needs to be suspended at least if not released out right. We'll see what happens over the next few days and how MM handles it but you can't walk out on your team during a game unless he had some type of family emergency which he should have notified the team about in that case. Thanks, Since '61

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Finwiz's picture

September 29, 2017 at 04:17 pm

They may give him a 2nd chance because they feel sorry for him due to immaturity. I'd suspect if the do (give a 2nd chance), he will be on a very short leash.

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NashvilleCheesehead's picture

September 29, 2017 at 04:39 pm

It is out on necessity due to lack depth!

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Mojo's picture

September 29, 2017 at 06:22 pm

He probably left Lambeau and was heading to Bellin Health to check on Davante.

What a good teammate.

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ArlenWilliams's picture

October 01, 2017 at 10:46 pm

Medical marijuana!
(Just kidding, Not a big-L Libertarian, nor doper.)

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