The Green Bay Packers will be without cornerback Casey Hayward this week, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed today.
Hayward, who led the Packers with six interceptions last year, re-injured his hamstring during the third preseason game. Prior to that, he had missed the majority of training camp with the original injury. So, you could argue that the Packers rushed him back or that he rushed himself back.
But that’s why you have a medical staff. To tell guys when they’re safe to play, not the other way around.
“There’s no timeline for Casey,” McCarthy said. “I hope his status is different next week. He will not be available this week.”
That means a larger role for either rookie Micah Hyde or Davon House. One of those guys will fill in for Hayward in the slot and our money is on Hyde. It shouldn’t really matter either way though, because go ahead and name me a San Francisco 49ers receiver.
Michael Crabtree? Out for the year.
Anquan Boldin? A No. 2 receiver playing the role of a No. 1
Who else you got?
No one? Thought so.
So, onto the good news.
Inside linebacker Brad Jones. Back!
Safety Morgan Burnett. Back!
Both players were full participants in today’s practice, so unless they re-injure themselves, they’ll be available to play this week.
Like Hayward, both guys were injured against Seattle and both tweaked their hamstring.
It’s a regular hamstring tweaking epidemic at 1265.