Good news for Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields. The knee injury he suffered on the first drive of Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers isn’t serious.
It was initially thought Shields suffered a strained MCL, but an MRI revealed it’s only a bone bruise.
Shields was the Packers best cornerback this season and his absence hurt the team on Sunday. While the Packers were able to shut down Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis, they were not able to contain Michael Crabtree, who had eight catches for 125 yards.
The news also means Shields, who’s about to be a free agent, won’t have questions about his health entering the offseason. And that means he’s going to cash in.
Whether that means the Packers are going to be the ones to pay him is unclear. The team had been working with Shields on a new contract during the season, but the sides couldn’t agree on a number.
Shields still should be the Packers’ top free agent priority, but Tramon Williams and the $7.5 million he’s owned next season complicates matters.