Williams, Rouse likely to start Sunday vs. Bucs
[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20080924&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=80924164&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=150&Border=0[/img_r]Nearly six years ago, the Green Bay Packers went into Foxboro, Mass., and were forced to play two defensive backs they signed off the street that week.
With cornerback Mike McKenzie and safety Darren Sharper out with injuries, the undermanned Packers upset the New England Patriots by playing defensive backs Bryant Westbrook and Todd Franz, who a week earlier were out of football. Neither started in the Packers 28-10 win on Oct. 13, 2002, but both played extensively in dime coverage.
Six years later, the Packers find themselves almost as desperate. On Wednesday, the team listed its entire starting secondary plus top backup safety Aaron Rouse -- who started last week -- on its injury report.
Only cornerback Al Harris, who tore his spleen in Sundays loss to the Dallas Cowboys, has been ruled out for this weeks game at Tampa Bay, but the sheer volume of defensive backs on the injury report has to be a concern considering the list includes safety Atari Bigby (who missed the Dallas game with a hamstring injury), safety Nick Collins (who left the Dallas game with a lower back contusion), cornerback Charles Woodson (who played despite a broken toe), Harris and Rouse.
Its only Wednesday, backup cornerback Will Blackmon said. Monday through Saturday, no one knows what goes on. You hear about all these injuries, but Sunday if thats the case, weve just got to be ready. But its only Wednesday, so you never know whats going to happen.
Its possible General Manager Ted Thompson could make a last-minute roster move like the Packers did before that 2002 Patriots game Westbrook was signed on the Wednesday before that game, while Franz was signed to the practice squad the same day but was not added to the 53-man roster until the day before the game. Practice-squad cornerback Joe Porter would be the most likely option.
But at this point, the Packers appear set to give Tramon Williams the start at cornerback in Harris place and are hopeful the rest of the injured players are healthy enough to play Sunday. Assuming Woodson plays, Blackmon likely would be the third cornerback in the nickel defense. Rookie second-round pick Pat Lee, who has been inactive the first three games, will make his regular-season debut.
Williams, a second-year player who seemingly came out of nowhere to make the team last season, took over the nickel spot in the final month of the regular season last year and won the job this summer. He has made steady improvement in coverage and held up OK in Harris place against the Cowboys before he gave up a 52-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Miles Austin, whom Williams believes got away with a push-off.
Tramon has been a great surprise for us, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. Starting back when he was acquired in Year 1 and just the way he developed from Year 1 to Year 2 in the offseason. Hes a true testament to hard work (in) the offseason program. He had a good year last year, and we feel very comfortable letting him step in there and play. Im excited for him, and we wont even blink with him in there.
At safety, Bigby is not expected to play, but Collins and Rouse seemed more likely to be ready. The Packers also have Charlie Peprah, who played his first game of the season on Sunday after missing two weeks because of a hamstring injury, and cornerback Jarrett Bush, who will work mostly at safety this week.
I like the depth there, McCarthy said. I feel we have four very good players there, and Jarrett Bush is a natural back there, frankly. Were going to rotate all of those guys in and make sure they are ready. Everybody deals with it. Injuries come in different forms and different times of the year, so thats kind of where we are.
Still, it might not be the most opportune time considering they are facing a team that threw the ball a Bucs-record 67 times in Sundays overtime win over Chicago. Quarterback Brian Griese threw for a career-high 407 yards.
They know that were hurt and banged up right now, so theyre going to take their shots, Collins said. Its up to us to just go out there and make the plays when they do.