Packers Injuries: 2010-2013

Call me cynical, but I don't see things suddenly getting better in 2014. Maybe it's because I have become jaded on this issue but I have given up hopes of watching a relatively healthy team (though for Packers standards, they did have one in 2011).

I just hope in 2014, the right players stay mostly healthy. But the losses this year are beyond ridiculous.

BTW, here is JSO's top 10 wounded they've missed most this year:

Here's a look at the 10 injuries that have cost them the most.

 

1. QB Aaron Rodgers (collarbone), 7 games: The Packers were 5-2 when he got hurt. They have gone 2-5-1 since. Scoring has dropped from 30.3 points per game in the seven games he played to completion to 21.5 in the eight he didn't. He was on pace to throw for 34 touchdowns this season; only 23 have been thrown with one game to go. The defense has suffered from the lack of scoring and poor field position in his absence.

 

2. WR Randall Cobb (leg), 10 games: He started out the year with two 100-yard receiving days and was on pace for 93 catches, 1,210 yards and six touchdowns. He would have helped quarterback Matt Flynn because of his ability to turn short passes into long gains.

 

3. TE Jermichael Finley (neck), 9 games: This was shaping up to be Finley's best season. He was on the same page with Rodgers, was breaking tackles and making defenses surround him. He was on pace for 67 catches for 800 yards and eight touchdowns. Tight ends have 37 catches in the nine games he has missed.

 

4. CB Casey Hayward (hamstring), 12 games: He led the team in interceptions as a rookie with six and was penciled in as the slot corner. The defense had just four interceptions in the first 11 games and slot receivers such as Victor Cruz and DeSean Jackson had big days. Rookie Micah Hyde took his lumps early but has come on of late.

 

5. LB Clay Matthews (thumb), 4 games: He had three sacks and two forced fumbles in his first four games. After breaking his right thumb, he was half the man he was playing against the run. Sacks have not been a problem, but the run defense has fallen apart with him in a cast.

 

6. LT Bryan Bulaga (knee), 16 games: The coaches might not have found out how good rookie David Bakhtiari is had Bulaga not been hurt. But chances are Bakhtiari would have wound up on the right side and the offense would have had pretty good bookends.

 

7. OLB Nick Perry (foot), 5 games: Just about the time he had shaken off a poor start, he broke his foot. He responded to being benched with two sacks against Detroit and followed up with one against Baltimore. With Matthews down, he had a good shot to establish himself on the right side, where he has three strip sacks.

 

8. LB Robert Francois (Achilles'), 11 games: He was off to a great start with two special teams tackles and a forced fumble. He and Jamari Lattimore were a fierce coverage tandem. Since he went down special-teams play has ranged from below average to lousy.

 

9. RB DuJuan Harris (knee), 16 games: It would have been interesting to see him paired with rookie Eddie Lacy. But given the way Lacy has taken over, Harris might have just wound up in the spot that James Starks is in now.

 

10. WR James Jones (knee), 2 games: He also wasn't himself for two or three games after those he missed. It's questionable how much more impact he would have had given who was throwing him the ball, but he has been a beast on the passes thrown to him lately.

 

 

 

2014 is a big year for Sherrod, Matthews, Perry, and Bulaga.  All 4 are former 1st round picks that are majorly injury prone.  Matthews has always had injuries, but it's stepping up a notch this year as he gets older.  These 4 guys need to show they can stay healthy next year or maybe it's time to move on.  

Matthews contract would probably prevent the Pack from getting rid of him, and I certainly don't want him to go.  But another year of injuries for Matthews in 2014 and it will make you wonder if he's already starting the downslide of his career.  Hopefully we see him at a level closer to 2010 than what we've seen this year.

Ummmmm, he broke his thumb and then rebroke it.  Hardly a precursor to the downside of his career.  

I could make a case that outside of Rodgers injury this year the one that's cost them the most is Nick Collins.  That secondary (center field) has not been the same since and even though it's dozens of games later they are still feeling the effects of that loss. 

Matthews is getting the injury prone label and it's always something with the guy.  Same thing with Bulaga and Perry.    I can't include Sherrod in that group because he hasn't really played at all.

others have said it, but we need to stop mentioning how Nick Collins is part of the problem in 2013

You're right.  I'd rather talk about another missed tackle or blown coverage by MD Jennings. 

I hope Richardson can make a leap because they really miss a playmaking safety back there.  

How long did the replacing Leroy Butler talk go for?  A decade?  I'm still talking about it.

... Burnett has been a big disappointment. We are the only team in the NFL whose safeties have ZERO interceptions for the season & if we don't get 1 Sunday, it will be the first time since the 1950's this has happened with the Packers. 

Sad.  It appears GB has one safety that can play football... and he's just an average joe.