Both of the Green Bay Packers starting inside linebackers went down with injuries last week against the Detroit Lions. Neither will play this week when the Packers face the New York Giants in what will be, perhaps, the team’s last, best test of the season.
Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk didn’t practice this week and coach Mike McCarthy said today neither will play on Sunday.
“Doctors decision, just didn’t feel like they’d be ready to play on Sunday. They’ll be evaluated again on Monday,” McCarthy said.
The Packers will go with rookie D.J. Smith and former practice squad linebacker Robert Francois as starters on Sunday. Both played well in the second half of the Lions’ game, but neither has extensive experience.
Frankly, we doubt Hawk will be missed, but Bishop has been a catalyst for the Packers defense. He’s the only one in the front seven who consistently makes plays.
Unfortunately, the Packers’ undefeated season may well come down to how well two backup inside linebackers play on Sunday.
If # 12 plays well sunday ( avoids TUCK) hopefully we can exploit NY’s weak LB’s & secondary ( saints game) and light them up. Be a good time for Mike Neal to show us SOMETHING.
Looking forward to seeing Finley embarrass their linebacking corps.
I feel confident Francois and Smith will play well our backups always do.
Smith was a monster in college at App. St. and reminds me of Sam Mills/ London Fletcher. He had over 525 tackles in his college career and is pretty quick off the ball even in the pro game. Shows great ability to break away from blocks in one on one battles.
Hope these guys continue to produce for us.
Go Pack Go!
Fuck da Bears!
Next man up!! LET’S GOOO!!
Why the fuck are we only 7 point favorites? If we lose this game it’ll be because we defeated ourselves and oddly enough we haven’t done that this season. Maybe let a team get close but no matter what, offense puts up points, defense hunkers down when it needs to end of story. 31 to 17 Packers.
DJ Smith has looked real good in his rookie season. I think he replaces AJ Hawk at linebacker sooner rather than later. Maybe give Hawk an extra week or two to heal up.
You’re under estimating Hawk. He just got like a 30 mil contract. And hes been playing at this level for years. Frankly, there are some intangibales that Hawk possesses that we must not know of. TT doesn’t just hand out these contracts.
DJ Smith can ball. Had a great open field tackle against a WR last week. If Francois has a solid game, we’ll be fine.
I hope that we turn the tables in this game and turn Eli into a turf-rag after what the dick DC for NY said about how his D needed to wear out AR.
C’mon, D, pound the shit out of Manning and OLine hawgs, take care of the franchise.
The problem is unlike Tony Romo, Mike Vick and the other shitbags the Giants are used to in the NFC East, you can pressure A-Rodge all day and he’ll just keep lighting you up. He is used to pressure. So BRING it.