The playoff chase has gotten much more difficult for the Packers after they lost two key defensive players to season-ending injuries.
Cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman will have knee surgery after suffering major injuries Sunday. Both were hurt on separate plays in the second half of a victory over San Francisco, apparently damaging their left knees. Coach Mike McCarthy would not confirm specific details of either injury.
“They’re both professionals,” McCarthy said. “I think we have a lot of confidence they’ll both respond very well. They’re both in great shape, both take great care of their bodies.”
The Packers have a short turnaround before visiting Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions also have injury concerns, particularly quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Monday that the top overall pick in the draft was “extremely sore” after sustaining a separated left shoulder on the next-to-last play of the win over Cleveland, and he won’t play against Green Bay unless the pain subsides.
Stafford said he is “in a good amount of pain.”
Schwartz was also unsure about receiver Calvin Johnson, who hurt his knee on the same play that Stafford was injured.
The Redskins, already among the league’s most injury-ravaged teams, added running back Ladell Betts (torn left knee ligaments), tackle Chad Rinehart (broken leg) and fullback Eddie Williams (broken leg) to their long injured reserve list. Betts is the backup to Clinton Portis, who likely won’t return from his concussion for at least one more game. Tight end Chris Cooley will be in a walking boot for another 10 days, and DeAngelo Hall has a sprained knee.
“Brutal. Brutal. It’s been brutal,” said Rock Cartwright, now Washington’s starting running back. “We lost a lot of key guys we planned on having for the season.”
The Steelers not only dropped to 6-4 with a stunning loss at Kansas City, they saw their top two quarterbacks go down. After Ben Roethlisberger left with concussion-like symptoms, backup Charlie Batch injured his left wrist during overtime. Batch could undergo surgery later this week and miss about six weeks. Batch sat out last season with a broken collarbone.
Arizona’s Kurt Warner, the other starting QB in last February’s Super Bowl, left in the second quarter against the Rams after banging his head against the turf. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said he spoke with Warner on the flight home, and the quarterback was “very upbeat and alert.”
Warner will undergo a mandatory “baseline test” of his cognitive functions Tuesday.
“We are obviously optimistic that there won’t be any issues with that whatsoever,” Whisenhunt said.
Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel felt fine after straining his neck and missing time in a win against the Bears.
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