Randall Cobb fighting through hamstring injury, close to return
-- The Green Bay Packers could use another veteran face in their offensive huddle this week against the Minnesota Vikings.
If their luck trends in the right direction, Randall Cobb could be available for the first time in over three weeks as he's fought through a hamstring injury he originally suffered in September.
"I’ve never had hamstring issues like this," Cobb said on Monday. "I've done everything that I’ve been asked to do. … I’m doing everything I can to get back on the field.
"At the end of the day, I gotta be able to go out and play and be confident and be able to be myself. If I’m not myself, then I’m hurting this team."
Cobb's play -- as far as a box score goes -- has greatly underwhelmed since his monster performance in the Packers' season opener. He's also in a contract year, leaving the Packers with what's expected to be a tough decision to make at the culmination of the season.
Despite missing five games, Cobb is second amongst the Packers' receivers in receptions (26) this season. That's both a testament to the lack of experienced pass-catchers for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to work with, as well as any semblance of consistency with the offensive gameplan.
With Cobb back in the fold -- and hopefully healthy -- that could at least provide Rodgers with a target who has proven to be one of his top security blankets for most of the latter stretch of his career.
Sitting at 4-5-1 and losers of three of their last four games, the Packers could sure use another playmaker the likes of which they saw Cobb take the form of earlier this season.
"It sucks. Everybody’s very frustrated," Cobb said. "Nobody wants to lose games. We don’t go out and work every day in the offseason to come into the season in shape and go through training camp and beat each other up through training camp and go through the season and lose games. Nobody wants to do that, that’s not fun. We want to win games. We’ve won a lot around here, and we gotta find a way to get back on track."
The Packers aren't mathematically -- or logically -- eliminated from the NFC playoff picture. They're right in the mix of it all and one game out of the sixth seed, currently held by the Vikings; the Packers' opponent this Sunday.
Before they could even mutter a single word about the playoffs, though, the Packers need to win a game on the road. They're 0-5 away from Lambeau Field this season.
"We can’t worry about everybody else, we gotta worry about ourselves. We haven’t won on the road, so it starts there. We gotta find a way to win a game."
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (34)
dobber
November 20, 2018 at 02:30 pm
" He's also in a contract year, leaving the Packers with what's expected to be a tough decision to make at the culmination of the season."
I don't think it will be that difficult...
Bearmeat
November 20, 2018 at 03:01 pm
No. Cobb is not a good NFL football player and hasn't been since 2015. Let him go.
dobber
November 20, 2018 at 03:21 pm
I hope someone else really likes him and gives him a nice (compensatory pick generating) contract.
Fire_Gute
November 20, 2018 at 07:51 pm
I'm hoping that gutekunst is active with the 40 plus million at his disposal and we don't get a single comp.
TarynsEyes
November 20, 2018 at 03:18 pm
Cobb is the guy standing under and sharpening the guillotine while a goat chews n the rope holding it up, in the Bud Light commercial....It won't end well.
Leatherhead
November 20, 2018 at 05:15 pm
So what if Cobb returns and plays well and we win our remaining games? That would really ruin some narratives.
Personally, I'd have kept Jordy and traded Cobb before the season started.
Cobb is still young and has lots of skills that can help a team, but his injury history isn't good. We're going to be very young at WR next year.....Adams will be our only guy who isn't a rookie or 2nd year guy.
dobber
November 20, 2018 at 06:30 pm
That would be a nice problem to have. He's had a good game, a few lousy ones, and a bunch of missed ones. Unless he averages 8-100 and a TD per game from here on out, I think he's someone who gets to test the market.
As for the trading...it takes two to tango. Someone had to be willing to take on that contract.
Rick1
November 20, 2018 at 02:59 pm
He has been paid well and has not lived up to the money given to him. I will take 83 and move on. He just like Perry, got the money and got comfortable. Rodgers came back and played on a bad leg week1 and continued to battle every week. MM always defends these guys. Then you go to a game and they are bouncing around during pregame but can’t play? The offense struggles and he can’t gut it out. Then 18 said the team has a different feel and they aren’t having fun. It is selfish crap and he should be quiet because he is not playing. Every team has those guys, they want money but won’t play hurt.
SoCalJim
November 20, 2018 at 03:08 pm
I'm not so sure about the "comfortable" angle. I think Cobb, and Perry, were simply lucky that the front office was so desperate to hang on to experienced players at certain positions of need, regardless of the players' actual level of talent. Their agents earned their money.
Lare
November 20, 2018 at 03:31 pm
Cobb, Perry & Matthews took advantage of a senile GM that fell in love with players he drafted,
Leatherhead
November 20, 2018 at 05:29 pm
I was under the impression that contract negotiations were handled by Ball.
SoCalJim
November 20, 2018 at 06:10 pm
R. Ball was a direct report to TT.
Skip greenBayless
November 20, 2018 at 07:00 pm
"a senile GM"
That's nice.
Fire_Gute
November 20, 2018 at 07:52 pm
No, actually it really sucked
Cubbygold
November 20, 2018 at 03:11 pm
Great! Get him in there and get MVS out... it'll help the tank
Lare
November 20, 2018 at 03:43 pm
If Cobb does play, how will we know?
dobber
November 20, 2018 at 03:44 pm
If he falls over...will he make a sound?
Rick1
November 20, 2018 at 03:45 pm
I agree with they took advantage. Doesn’t it piss anybody else off when they have something to say but won’t play hurt. Concussions are one thing but a hamstring is another. They need to be tougher. As far as Cobb battling it shows he wasn’t in playing shape. This not playing in the preseason is a major reason why.
Slim11
November 20, 2018 at 04:10 pm
My football days ended my sophomore year in college with a pulled hamstring AND the other hamstring torn because I tried to over-compensate for the pulled hamstring and return too soon. I don't like the fact Cobb is out, but it's a fact of football and life.
LeotisHarris
November 20, 2018 at 08:56 pm
Tell ya what, Tough Guy Rick. How about *you* go squat some heavy weight and tear your hammy. Then try to run. You'll find your hamstring is sort of an important piece to picking 'em up and putting 'em down. You'll experience new sensations with the stopping and starting parts of running.
I don't question the toughness of Randall Cobb, or any Packers player. Any teammate wants to play, he's no exception. Everyone is playing hurt to some extent.
Skip greenBayless
November 20, 2018 at 11:58 pm
Well said Leotis, well said.
Dash
Doug Niemczynski
November 20, 2018 at 04:37 pm
who cares.
LeotisHarris
November 20, 2018 at 08:58 pm
Hi, Doug. Just popping in to let you know Duke is leading Clemson 75-66 with 2:10 to go in their Maui Invitational game.
Rick1
November 20, 2018 at 04:40 pm
Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde both said they battle hamstring issues in Green Bay. They went to different teams and said the more aggressive workouts and preparing their legs for the season was more about endurance and playing shape. The packers are trying to protect the players but it is a error if they aren’t in game day shape. Different approach but when you tally up soft tissue injuries are a training mistake.
Lare
November 20, 2018 at 05:11 pm
Hopefully, when McCarthy goes to Cleveland he takes his strength & conditioning staff with him.
Doug Niemczynski
November 20, 2018 at 09:22 pm
hooray! ! thanks
Slim11
November 21, 2018 at 08:52 am
Strength and conditioning have been significant issues in Green Bay ever since McCarthy was hired.
Samson
November 20, 2018 at 05:22 pm
No doubt RC's days as a Packer are drawing to an end. -- At this point, I'd rather see the rookies playing the snaps instead of RC. --- RC won't have any impact the rest of the season (especially at Minn.).
ILPackerBacker
November 20, 2018 at 05:40 pm
R COBB had his chances this year, he fumbled and bumbled them and got a fake injury to the IR
He is gone and have a nice free agency.
But what if GOD sends a lightning bolt down and strikes MM and puts his brain back and we win out?
dobber
November 20, 2018 at 06:45 pm
Is this some new form of haiku I don't know about?
PAPackerbacker
November 20, 2018 at 05:43 pm
Give the rookie receivers some experience and play them the rest of the season. At this point may as well let them play and gain experience and the confidence of Rodgers. Nothing to lose and everything to gain. Why play Cobb when he will likely be gone next year anyhow? Or take a chance of more serious injury. Let the rookies learn and develop for the remainder of the season. By playing the rookies it will also allow the Packers to make decisions on who is a good fit and who is not so they can make better choices on draft day.
stockholder
November 20, 2018 at 11:14 pm
I love this. Cobb is willing to sacrifice his body for the good of Team. I dread the chaos Cobb is creating. Just when the fans thought they had things their way. A veteran wants to play. He's decided he is what the team needs. I thought he lost his position to St. Brown and MVS. Why is he not gone? Monty is. I believe Cobb only wants to play against the Vikings. That way they sign him next year. Isn't that how it works? Run your mouth, Burn the bridge. And say what a bad place GreenBay is. They didn't treat me right! Cobb had his day. And those days are gone. Paying bench players 12 mil a year is never easy. It's obvious Cobb is done in Green Bay. Hopefully A-Rod won't see him.
Mr.Grapple
November 20, 2018 at 11:16 pm
I am sorry to say this "Cob who?"
Doofapotamus
November 21, 2018 at 12:43 am
Randall Cobb was a great utility player. The injuries he's suffered over the years have robbed him of his explosiveness and outside of the one play he has made this year, he has done nothing for GB this season. He is hampering the offense more than the rookies are.