Green Bay Confirmation that rookie safety Morgan Burnett had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee shook the coaching offices inside Green Bay Packers headquarters Monday morning.
But by the afternoon, defensive coordinator Dom Capers was already coming up with ways to fill the void without any drop-off.
Ideally, the Packers would like to move backup Charlie Peprah into Burnett's spot and go on with business as usual, but Peprah has missed the last two games with a thigh injury, isn't as athletic as Burnett and has started only one game in the NFL.
So, before he anoints anyone as a starter, Capers is going to start looking at various combinations of players the way he did when he came up his "Psycho" and "Big Okie" packages. Both were born of personnel dilemmas that required some creativity, a place Capers finds himself heading into the Washington game.
"It's not the first time we've been short at a position," Capers said Monday. "The way our game is, there are going to be injuries, and you have to have enough flexibility in your package to have things you can go to based on a shortage at one position.
"Really, through the first quarter of the season (that's the way it's been). During the course of every game we've had a shortage."
The "Big Okie," which features linebacker Brandon Chillar as the second safety, would be an ideal package against a physical Washington team led by scrambling quarterback Donovan McNabb. Chillar can blitz, cover tight ends and help in the run game.
The only question is whether Chillar will be available after missing the Detroit game with a shoulder injury. Last week, Chillar could barely put on his shirt, but Capers said Monday he was able to lift his arm, so there is hope he might be available.
The injury may be related to two other shoulder injuries suffered by Chillar, including one that bugged him part of last season.
If Chillar can't play, Capers still has options. Clay Matthews has played every linebacker position and is athletic enough to handle a hybrid position. Also, cornerback Charles Woodson could play a modified safety position tailored around an extra linebacker or cornerback. Also, Jarrett Bush has played the position and could start.
Both Capers and safeties coach Darren Perry said it would be next to impossible to bring someone in off the street and get them ready to play this week. Perry pointed out how even veteran Matt Giordano needed time to fit in last year after being signed at midseason and was a failed move.
"Not unless he's played in this system," Perry said of the chances of filling the spot with a veteran.
If the coaches can find a quick fix, they may only have to go with it a few weeks because 2009 starter Atari Bigby (ankle surgery) is scheduled to come off of the physically unable to perform list on Oct. 18. He has three weeks to practice before the Packers must decide whether to activate him, put him on injured reserve or cut him.
At this point, no one knows for sure when hell be ready.
"He's optimistic, but you have to be careful about expectations for a guy who has been out as long as he has," Perry said.
The loss of Burnett, a third-round pick, was certainly disappointing given he had been the starter at Bigby's spot since the first day of training camp and was "getting more comfortable, and you could see his athletic ability taking over," coach Mike McCarthy said.
No one knew Burnett had torn his ACL until he was examined in the second quarter. McCarthy said the injury probably happened somewhere between the ninth and 12th play of Burnett's 23-play day, which means he played two full series with it. One of those series ended with him getting turned around in the open field on a touchdown to receiver Calvin Johnson.
"It really came as a shock," Capers said.
Derrick Martin, a special teams leader, filled in for Burnett, and is in the mix to replace him. But Peprah probably is ahead of him and undoubtedly will get the bulk of the snaps at that position if he's ready to go this week in practice.
The Packers could sign practice squad safety Anthony Levine to replace Burnett on the roster. The 5-11, 199-pound Levine has been with the team since being signed after a tryout in early May and flashed some ability in training camp.