Green Bay Packers lose CB Al Harris, OLB Aaron Kampman for season with knee injuries
By Rob Demovsky
Dom Capers leaned against the wall outside the Green Bay Packers locker room on Sunday afternoon and, for a brief moment, his shoulders slumped and his head dropped.
He looked like he had just been kicked in the gut. It was perhaps at that moment the Packers defensive coordinator fully realized the kind of fight hes in for the rest of the season.
If his defense is going to help the Packers make the playoffs, it likely will have to happen without the services of cornerback Al Harris and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman. Both sustained serious left knee injuries in the second half of Sundays 30-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers and appear lost for the season.
Harris agent, Jack Bechta, said Packers physician Dr. Patrick McKenzies initial diagnosis was a torn anterior cruciate ligament. An NFL source said Kampman appeared to have the same injury.
Just one of those days, Capers said in a sullen voice.
One of those really bad days, apparently.
Without Harris and Kampman, who are among the teams longest-tenured veterans on defense, the Packers had to field a unit that included a rookie sixth-round pick and a rookie seventh-round pick.
Thats life in the NFL, Capers said. Their job is to get ready, and our job is to see how much they can handle.
It will have to happen in a hurry. The Packers play at Detroit on Thursday in the Lions annual Thanksgiving game.
Though third-year veteran Tramon Williams replaced Harris in the base defense, Capers relied heavily on his dime (six defensive backs) package in the second half against the 49ers. That brought rookie cornerback Brandon Underwood, a sixth-round pick, on to the field because fourth-year pro Jarrett Bush, the dime defensive back, had to move up to Williams spot in the nickel.
Harris is the second cornerback lost to an ACL injury this season. Will Blackmon, who almost certainly would have played ahead of Bush and Underwood, sustained the same injury in Week 4.
Rookie Brad Jones, a seventh-round pick, took some of Kampmans snaps at left outside linebacker, although veteran Brady Poppinga got some work there, too. Jones started a week earlier at that spot and held up well, especially against the run, against Dallas when Kampman was sidelined with a concussion.
The two rookies had a chance to play today, and itll give them a chance to learn from being in there, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. Brad had a chance to play some last week, so hell have two games to work off. Brandon, it was obviously a big opportunity for him, so well just keep coaching them.
Not having to face Harris and Kampman, the 49ers almost came back from a 20-point deficit.
Going to a pass-heavy attack in the second half, the 49ers made big plays down the field to tight end Vernon Davis (six catches for 108 yards, one touchdown) and receiver Michael Crabtree (four catches for 77 yards, one touchdown), who caught a 35-yarder on Williams in the fourth quarter to help set up a touchdown.
The Packers feel good about Williams, who started four games last season while Harris was out with a lacerated spleen, but its the trickle-down effect in the nickel and dime and perhaps even on special teams that should have them worried.
One thing about this league, and you dont want to sound cavalier about it, but youve got to go play, cornerback Charles Woodson said. So whoever is in a backup role will have to work on a short week and prepare to win on Thursday. Well just have to keep rolling.
Kampman, who had a sack in the first quarter, was injured on a third-quarter play in which he was engaged with a 49ers player and his knee buckled. Harris went down in the fourth quarter, when he planted his left foot and dropped to the turf without contact.
Its a serious blow to each players future.
Kampman, 29, is in the final year of his contract, and his future with the Packers was in doubt even before the injury because he hasnt been the best fit for Capers 3-4 defense. The chances that the Packers could tag him and trade him to a 4-3 team in the offseason might have diminished.
Harris is older, 34, and could find it difficult to return to form after such a serious injury.