GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy believes the roots of his team’s fast start lie partially in his training camp schedule, which allowed for more rest and recovery time than usual.
Given more time to recuperate, the theory went, players would have more energy when the regular season rolled around. So far, you can’t argue with a 2-0 record after the Packers started 1-4 in each of their past three seasons.
But given all that time to rest up, what’s with the injuries?
“We started fast in our first two games, but we’ve got way too many guys on IR and way too many guys on the injury report,” McCarthy said. “Rest and recovery? I’m not going to give them any more rest, I can tell you that, so we need to recover better.”
A whopping 13 players missed all or part of practice on Wednesday. That’s a discouraging development for the Packers, who will be trying to prove their quick start is for real on Sunday against a talented San Diego team coming off an embarrassing loss to New England.
Among those who did not practice for the Packers on Wednesday were tight end Bubba Franks (knee), cornerback Al Harris (back), wide receiver Greg Jennings (hamstring), defensive lineman Corey Williams (ankle) and cornerback Charles Woodson (hip).
The list of players limited in practice included left tackle Chad Clifton (ankle), defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins (wrist), defensive lineman Johnny Jolly (heel), defensive lineman Aaron Kampman (rib), backup offensive lineman Tony Moll (neck), running back Vernand Morency (knee), backup safety Aaron Rouse (hamstring) and offensive lineman Jason Spitz (calf).
Beyond that, defensive lineman Mike Montgomery (knee) and offensive lineman Tony Palmer (neck) already have been ruled out for Sunday’s game. And the Packers already have placed eight players, most notably third-down back Noah Herron and wide receiver Carlyle Holiday, on injured reserve.
In response to what might be the worst early-season injury situation he has seen, McCarthy didn’t have his remaining healthy players practice in full pads on Wednesday.
“I haven’t been in this situation … as I can recall, even as an assistant, this early in the season,” McCarthy said. “But that’s where we are.”
McCarthy said Morency, who hurt his knee on the first day of training camp, had a fairly full day of practice Wednesday.
That also was the case last week, when Morency had a good practice on Wednesday, but his knee flared up on Thursday and he was inactive for Sunday’s victory over the New York Giants.
“He went most of the practice,” McCarthy said. “I know we had him limited participation, but we worked him as much as we could, trying to get the other three guys ready, too. Tomorrow morning’s medical review will be a factor in whether he goes this week or not.”
The ongoing injury is frustrating to Morency, who came into training camp as the projected starter.
“I feel like I am a spark on this club,” Morency said. “I want to be out there as soon as possible. But the doctors and the team and myself are trying to be smart. It’s a long season. But I want to be out there ASAP. I’m doing my rehab, doing everything I’m supposed to do, and just praying every single day like I normally do.”
If it was up to him, would he have been back out there already?
“Probably stupidly,” Morency said. “Knowing that I’m not where I need to be at, but being a competitor, you feel like you can still help the team out any which way. Would I have been able to cut and play my game? No.”
For now, Morency has been reduced to helping rookies Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn. Despite the 2-0 start, the Packers’ running game has struggled in the first two games.
“Yeah, our running game is not where everybody expected it to be,” Morency said. “But yet, it’s still early in the season, and everybody’s still learning. It’ll get there.”
McCarthy said Jennings, who also has been inactive for the first two games, most likely wouldn’t return to practice until Friday. The outlook for the Packers’ other injured starters also was unclear.
McCarthy said the players who didn’t practice Wednesday would be pushed in rehabilitation, and he’d have a better idea on Thursday who might be available to play.
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