It looks like the Green Bay Packers will open their game with the Chicago Bears tonight with the same starting offensive line they opened the season with.
Both Chad Clifton and Daryn Colledge practiced with the No. 1 unit on Saturday and will start barring a last-minute setback. Clifton has been battling a knee injury since the beginning of the season and Colledge sprained his knee on Friday.
With both veterans looking ready, rookie Bryan Bulaga will have to wait at least another week for his first NFL start. He is the top backup at both left tackle and left guard.
If neither Clifton or Colledge were able to play, the Packers would have started Bulaga at left guard and T.J. Lang at left tackle. Bulaga may still end up with some playing time, however. The rookie replaced an ineffective Clifton after his knee began acting up in the Packers last game against Buffalo.
Bulaga has played better than the veteran this season, but coach Mike McCarthy again stood by Clifton as the starting left tackle.
“Really, Chad Clifton is our starting left tackle,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “He’s in the stage of his career that his particular knee situation is a little bit unpredictable, so we’ll see how he is Monday.”
In other injury news, defensive end Mike Neal will miss a third consecutive game. Linebacker Brad Jones, defensive end Ryan Pickett and safety Charlie Peprah are listed as questionable. Frank Zombo and Brady Poppinga will see action if Jones can’t go. Cornerback Brandon Underwood practiced all week and will be available for the first time this season.
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Last updated on November 17th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
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