It’s almost amazing that the Green Bay Packers can’t even start training camp healthy.
But these are the Green Bay Packers. If injuries don’t happen today, they’ll happen tomorrow.
The Packers are starting training camp with six players on the physically unable to perform list. The biggest name on that list is receiver Jordy Nelson.
Nelson missed all of 2015 with a torn ACL, but has been ahead of his recovery schedule all along. Nelson seemed certain he’d be ready for training camp, but the Packers obviously disagreed.
Joining him as a no-go are tight end Jared Cook, linebacker Sam Barrington, guard T.J. Lang, center Corey Linsley and wide receiver Ty Montgomery.
Cook and Montgomery aren’t terribly surprising.
Cook, the Packers’ one significant free agent addition, underwent foot surgery in May or June. Montgomery missed most of his rookie season with a misdiagnosed ankle injury.
It’s entirely possible we won’t see Montgomery ever again.
Barrington broke his foot and missed all of 2015, minus a single game. His absence early on may allow rookie Blake Martinez to take his job.
Lang had shoulder surgery and Linsley is a mystery.
We’re not worried about either offensive lineman missing regular season time. Nor are we worried about Nelson or Cook.
While we’re not particularly worried about Barrington, he should be worried about retaining a starting job.
As for Montgomery, well, we’ll actually believe he’ll play again when we see him on the field in a regular season game.
Unlike the regular season, players can be removed from the PUP at any time during the preseason. The catch is they become ineligible for the regular season PUP — which would require them to miss the first six games — if they take part in a single practice.