Green Bay Packers backup tackle [intlink id=”1037″ type=”category”]Marshall Newhouse[/intlink] didn’t look terribly sharp during the preseason, but he more than held his own against Chicago on Sunday when forced to replace the injured [intlink id=”925″ type=”category”]Bryan Bulaga[/intlink].
It’s a good thing, too.
Bulaga is likely to miss a couple weeks with a sprained knee and Newhouse will be asked to start at right tackle.
“I thought he came in and did pretty well, I really did,” Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said Monday. “I thought in the pass protection he did a good job. They twisted a little bit and did a lot of line moves. Overall, for the most part, he handled that really well. In the running game, there were a couple of things here and there that he needs to do better. But I thought for getting thrown into that situation, he did well.”
Newhouse’s performance against the Bears was impressive for two reasons.
One of the Bears’ strengths is their defensive line and Newhouse more than held his own against Julius Peppers and Co. Additionally, Newhouse has worked almost exclusively at left tackle in practice and the preseason.
As the only backup tackle on the active roster in Chicago, the Packers had no choice but to insert Newhouse when Bulaga went down.
With Bulaga out, the Packers also look like they’ll have to activate first-round pick [intlink id=”1613″ type=”category”]Derek Sherrod[/intlink] for the first time this season.
