Zombo Likely to Miss Vikings Game

After sustaining a hamstring injury on Sunday, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said linebacker Frank Zombo will probably miss Monday's game against Minnesota.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that outside linebacker Frank Zombo will likely miss next week's Monday Night Football game against NFC North division rival Minnesota Vikings.

Zombo sustained a hamstring injury in Sunday's win over the Chargers in San Diego.

"I don't think it's a severe hamstring," said McCarthy during a press conference. "I reiterated exactly what the trainer, Pepper Burris, has told me. He will be challenged and most likely will not make the Minnesota game."

McCarthy could not provide a specific timetable for Zombo's return. The linebacker's hamstring injury was his third health-related ailment of the 2011 season dating back to a broken scapula suffered during the preseason and a knee injury upon his return in Week 6.

Sunday was Zombo's first game back from a hyperextended knee. He missed the Week 7 game against the Vikings but got an extra week's rest during the team's bye.

Zombo will have missed both games against the Vikings this year, at a time they could use his services in shutting down opposing running back Adrian Peterson.

In other injury related news, it appears as if defensive lineman Mike Neal will return to practice on Thursday.

With their next game not until seven days away and an extra day to prepare, the players were given an atypical Monday off, will watch film and weight train on Tuesday, will be off again on Wednesday and return to practice Thursday.

Though the plan is for Neal to practice on Thursday, McCarthy would not commit to saying he will play in the game against the Vikings.

"We will detail what we feel Mike can handle, and there's going to be a progression of bringing Mike back to practice," said McCarthy. "That conversation will go on here the next couple days. We're shooting for him to be on the practice field Thursday."

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Comments (17)

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channel Don Hutson's picture

November 07, 2011 at 04:53 pm

Doesn't anyone do serious warm-up exercises any more?

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Evan's picture

November 07, 2011 at 05:33 pm

Justin. Harrell.

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Evan's picture

November 07, 2011 at 05:48 pm

Kidding, by the way.

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Mr. Bacon's picture

November 07, 2011 at 06:07 pm

I wonder if Zombo knew NOT to drink Jobu's rum...

Jobu doesn't like it when you take what it is his.

Get well soon, again.

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ohenry78's picture

November 07, 2011 at 07:03 pm

Maybe this will mean the debut of Vic So'oto. Let's see if the preseason was just a fluke.

Also, I say let's sit Neal this week. The last thing his shoulder needs is to get whipped backwards trying to arm-tackle Adrian Peterson.

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ohenry78's picture

November 07, 2011 at 07:23 pm

Derp, it was his knee not his shoulder this time.

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Bob's picture

November 07, 2011 at 07:29 pm

I would like to see Soto play also, but for some reason the coaching staff gets it into their heads that this guy is not ready. Reminds me of the treatment Bishop had for years until they were forced to play him. To bad they cannot commit to playing him and see what happens. What's the worst that can happen, they fail to stop the opposing team and give up 38 points.

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Nerd's Laptop's picture

November 07, 2011 at 09:47 pm

They want him to improve on Special Teams first.

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Burt Favor's picture

November 07, 2011 at 08:11 pm

Is Davon House still injured? It would seem that he could be used in the secondary. Would love to see mini-beast unleashed!

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Evan's picture

November 07, 2011 at 08:49 pm

He was active 2 weeks ago when Shields was out.

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CSS's picture

November 08, 2011 at 02:01 pm

I wish Zombo could stay healthy because it certainly appears (without watching the replay) that Walden alone is an average player, but in a rotation he looked much better.

Were my eyes deceiving me or did Walden look much better when asked to split reps?

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PackerAaron's picture

November 08, 2011 at 02:02 pm

From McGinn today:

When the Packers beat the Bears in Week 16 a year ago and Erik Walden had three sacks (one was cheap), he got a ton of pub even though he played the run poorly that day. This probably was his finest game for the Packers. He had a career-high 4½ pressures, almost all at the expense of massive, talented LT Marcus McNeill. He also batted down a pass, drew a holding penalty by TE Randy McMichael after smashing him in the face on a run and beat McNeill inside in the fourth quarter for only his second tackle for loss in Green Bay. If truth be told, Walden isn't thrilled about job-sharing with Frank Zombo. In this game, he played like a full-fledged starter. On the other hand, Zombo missed a couple of tackles and showed limited range before leaving with an aggravated hamstring in the third quarter.

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CSS's picture

November 08, 2011 at 02:05 pm

So, what's your take? We see the best out of Walden in a rotation, or he simply needs to grow into the position?

Zombo needs repetition, so I'm not too concerned about his play if he can stay healthy. Tough to rail on him too much considering injuries and lack of repetition/game shape.

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PackerAaron's picture

November 08, 2011 at 02:18 pm

I think he benefited from playing across a struggling left tackle. I thought he could grow into something more, but after 8 games he seems to be "just a guy." As for Zombo, it's hard to get a read on the guy when he can't get on the field. But he looked terrible Sunday.

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CSS's picture

November 08, 2011 at 02:31 pm

I don't have a take, only a growing concern as the season progresses:

San Francisco, Detroit, New York and Chicago all have a decent if not deep defensive line rotation and rush 4 guys through that rotation. They're going to be pretty fresh if they can limit injuries. Each team has rushed the passer (in order listed above); 324 (SF), 296 (Det), 286 (NY), 327 (Chi).

What percentage of those snaps did the rotation/depth take part in?

Packers players capable of rushing have taken almost all of 319 pass rushing opportunities. Also, aren't they the only 3-4 defense in the NFC playoff hunt (although they play a ton of nickle they still rush OLB's) rushing two smaller ends (compared to 4-3 rushers/rotations)?

My point, they're going to really wear down and be less effective in the playoffs if they can't give smaller bodies like Matthews and Walden a more frequent blow from time to time. Not to mention Raji and Wynn where the fatigue already looks obvious.

Could be a serious issue that only burdens the back 7 more.

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Tarynfor 12's picture

November 08, 2011 at 02:35 pm

Zombo right now IMO, is like getting on the bicycle you know how to ride but,you miss putting your foot on the pedal the first time it comes around but you do find it and nothing can stop you...accept another injury.

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SoTxPhil's picture

November 08, 2011 at 05:57 pm

I have been wanting to see what So'oto can do lining up in Walden's spot since his amazing show against the Colts and Chiefs. He can't put on a worse pass rush than Walden and he seemed to play the rush pretty well.

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