Reinforcements Could Be Coming For Packers Soon

We had forgotten about this, but Jason Wilde pointed it out this morning. It’s almost week six. So fucking what, huh? Well, that means guys who started the season on the physically unable to perform list can start practicing as early as Monday.

Of course the Green Bay Packers have some of those guys. Namely, defensive lineman Jerel Worthy, tackle Derek Sherrod and safety Sean Richardson.

So basically, it works like this. The Packers have three weeks to get those guys on the practice field after they’re eligible to return. If they can’t practice during that window, well, welcome to season-ending injured reserve. Once they start practicing, the Packers then have three weeks to either add them to the active roster, release them or put them on injured reserve.

Worthy tore his ACL in December, Sherrod has been out since December of 2011 with a broken leg and Richardson has been dealing with a neck injury not unlike that of former Packer Nick Collins. So what are they chances these guys contribute this season?

In Worthy’s case, he seems to think he’ll start practicing soon. Contributing might be a bit tougher, though. The Packers are pretty loaded on the defensive line, a unit that has become a strength of the team.

Case in point, former starter — and a pretty good run defender — C.J. Wilson has been inactive for two games this season.

Sherrod, meanwhile, hasn’t seen NFL action for a while, but the former first-round pick is expected to finally get some this season.

“Derek Sherrod, he’s definitely going to play this year. He looks great,” McCarthy said on his TV show earlier this week. “It has been a long process for him coming back. I’m glad we took the extra time. He’s ready to go. He’s not available until after six weeks. He looks good. I’m excited to get him on the practice field.”

So maybe this is the year? Well, he has to crack the starting lineup to actually get on the field and unless someone like right tackle Don Barclay really starts to falter or the Packers have an injury (totally unlikely in Green Bay, right?), then Sherrod’s chances of playing seem thin.

Richardson might be of the most value to the Packers, but he’s also the least likely to return.

He could replace someone on the roster like, say, the truly awful Jerron McMillian. While we wouldn’t mind such a move, the Packers have obviously been cautious with neck injuries. This one may end Richardson’s career like Collins’ did his.

In any case, there are going to be some roster moves to look forward to in the coming weeks.