Evening practice recap: Humphrey suffers broken arm
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
Aug. 6, 2009 9:31 p.m.
Green Bay - Tight end Tory Humphrey, whose time with the Packers has been marred by injuries, suffered a broken forearm in this morning's practice and will have surgery on Friday.
While the injury will likely end his season, the Packers will wait until after the surgery to determine his immediate future in regards to the roster.
Humphrey had a hamstring injury in '06, which landed him on injured reserve. And he missed all of '07 after breaking his lower leg in the first practice of training camp.
Humphrey was injured on a throwaway play near the end of the two-minute drill. Aaron Rodgers threw up a deep pass to Humphrey which was picked off by Aaron Rouse. It didn't count -- Jarius Wynn was offsides to start the play.
"It's awful," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He's had a couple of tough injuries. We'll know more after the surgery."
Even with Evan Moore (broken right ring finger) hurting, McCarthy said the team is OK at tight end.
"Well, with (converted linebacker) Spencer Havner, I think our numbers are OK for now," McCarthy said. "We're hitting that spot in training camp. The outside linebacker position was stressed today and we'll have to look at how they come in and look at (Friday's) practice. This is kind of normal at this point. You hope the day would help you.)
In other injury news, the top two right outside linebackers, Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Jeremy Thompson (groin) left the evening practice. Matthews' injured the same hamstring that kept him out of off-season practices.
Ruvell Martin also dropped out with a groin injury.
Defensive end Justin Harrell was held out because his reps were getting too high, according to McCarthy.
Notes from practice:
Anthony Smith (groin), Pat Williams (hamstring), Johnny Jolly (ankle), Justin Harrell (rest), Brad Jones (back) and Nick Barnett (knee) all were out.
Returning to practice were: Atari Bigby, Scott Wells, Chad Clifton, Ryan Pickett, Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins.
Spencer Havner was back with the tight ends.
McCarthy kicked the No. 2 punt team off the field after Jarius Wynn was late getting on the field. McCarthys language was colorful, to say the least.
Havner is still with the No. 1 kickoff coverage unit and most of the other special teams units.
On the net/accuracy drill, at one point Aaron Rodgers made three passes in a row and four total. None of his backups hit the apparatus.
Most of the first half of practice was spent on special teams as the units get ready for the intrasquad scrimmage.
Matthews opened with the first team at ROLB but didn't last long with a hamstring.
On a team run drill, DeShawn Wynn laid a very powerful right shoulder into Rouse's chest.
Of all the cornerbacks, Will Blackmon appears to be having the most trouble adjusting to playing off receivers. He got turned around during a few one-on-ones.
One thing you never saw in Bob Sanders defense that you do now: cornerbacks having to fend for themselves in the deep part of the field. Since the safeties have to cover for the linebackers during blitzes, a common sight in camp thus far is a cornerback with no help around him. Tramon Williams had that happen to him during team run when James Jones and Rodgers hooked up on a long pass.
Kregg Lumpkin played effectively with a wrap around his right quad.
Chad Clifton limped off at one point after being kicked in the right knee. He did return.
TE Jermichael Finley had another very strong practice. He might have been the player of the day. He looks effortless cutting across the field and making catches. He has such a big frame that its hard for defenders to get around him.
This may sound familiar, but the next big play A.J. Hawk makes in practice will be the first. While Desmond Bishop is constantly shooting gaps and trying to make plays, Hawk is still reading and reacting. He is seldom around the ball. He takes on blockers, but is easily turned around. Its a repeat of last season when he was playing Mike after Barnett went down. But the coaches are still high on him.
Both Brohm and Flynn had a couple of easy overthrows each.
The running backs were outstanding during this practice at blitz pickup. The quarterbacks were hardly touched.
Bigby had an interception of Rodgers that deflected off Finleys hands.
Crosby made 8 of 9 field goals in the practice. He was wide right from 48. Made one from 53. It might be significant that Durant Brooks held on four of the kicks and looked very adept at it. Both Jon Ryan and Derrick Frost held when they were with the Packers.