Notebook: Halfback Fisher has rib injury
The Packers might have to drop down yet another notch on their running-back depth chart after a rib injury cropped up on new starter Tony Fisher.
Fisher opened the season as the Packers’ No. 3 halfback but is their starter after season-ending injuries to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport.
Fisher sustained a mysterious injury to his ribs last week at Cincinnati, though it didn’t force him to leave the game or prevent him from practicing earlier in the week. But after a nagging pain in his shoulder blade continued late this week, the Packers conducted tests on him Thursday and Friday that suggest he might have a rib injury on his right side. The team’s medical staff hadn’t pinpointed the injury as of early Friday afternoon because of conflicting test results.
Fisher sat out of practice Friday and was added to the Packers’ injury report for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh as questionable (50 percent chance of playing). If he can’t play, ReShard Lee, one of three recent street free agents who make up the rest of the Packers’ halfback corps, would start in his place.
“My gut feeling is I’m playing regardless,” Fisher said. “But it’s easy for me to say. I have to wait and see what the doc says.”
Fisher’s absence probably would hurt the Packers more in the passing game than running game because of his knowledge of blitz pickups. Walt Williams, who was with the Packers on their practice squad and roster for much of last season and training camp this year, will be their third-down back if Fisher can’t play
“(Williams) has done that all week,” coach Mike Sherman said. “We’ve schooled him up in that area specifically so he’d be a guy we could use and feel comfortable with on third down in protection.”
Samkon Gado, who was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster last week, also could get some carries at halfback. He had one rush for 8 yards last week at Cincinnati.
Injury update: Linebacker Na’il Diggs probably will miss one more game because of the torn medial-collateral ligament in his right knee.
Diggs split time in practice this week between the Packers’ defense and scout team and physically is relatively close to full speed. But he’s missed so much practice in training camp and this season that Sherman probably will give him another week of practice to get acclimated to his assignments before putting him back on the field.
Diggs missed five weeks in training camp and early this season because of a similar injury to his left knee, and he’s five weeks removed from his current injury. Paris Lenon has started the last two games in Diggs’ place.
“(Diggs’) familiarity with the defense isn’t quite where you’d like it to be,” Sherman said.
Receiver Antonio Chatman missed practice Friday and was added to the Packers’ injury list because of a bruised quadriceps sustained in practice Thursday, but he’s expected to play. He’s listed as probable (75 percent chance of playing).
Besides Chatman and Fisher, two other players missed practice Friday: receiver Robert Ferguson (knee), who’s doubtful (25 percent chance of playing) and not expected to suit up, and tight end David Martin (groin), who’s questionable and also appears unlikely to play.
Three other players, all starters, were listed as probable and practiced Friday: tight end Bubba Franks (knee), center Mike Flanagan (hernia) and cornerback Al Harris (knee).
The Steelers probably will be missing two starters Sunday, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who’s out after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Backup running back Jerome Bettis (quadriceps) didn’t practice, is listed as doubtful and isn’t expected to play.
Everyone else on the Steelers practiced Friday, including backup defensive lineman Travis Kirschke (back), who’s listed as questionable.
source : www.packersnews.com
Fisher opened the season as the Packers’ No. 3 halfback but is their starter after season-ending injuries to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport.
Fisher sustained a mysterious injury to his ribs last week at Cincinnati, though it didn’t force him to leave the game or prevent him from practicing earlier in the week. But after a nagging pain in his shoulder blade continued late this week, the Packers conducted tests on him Thursday and Friday that suggest he might have a rib injury on his right side. The team’s medical staff hadn’t pinpointed the injury as of early Friday afternoon because of conflicting test results.
Fisher sat out of practice Friday and was added to the Packers’ injury report for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh as questionable (50 percent chance of playing). If he can’t play, ReShard Lee, one of three recent street free agents who make up the rest of the Packers’ halfback corps, would start in his place.
“My gut feeling is I’m playing regardless,” Fisher said. “But it’s easy for me to say. I have to wait and see what the doc says.”
Fisher’s absence probably would hurt the Packers more in the passing game than running game because of his knowledge of blitz pickups. Walt Williams, who was with the Packers on their practice squad and roster for much of last season and training camp this year, will be their third-down back if Fisher can’t play
“(Williams) has done that all week,” coach Mike Sherman said. “We’ve schooled him up in that area specifically so he’d be a guy we could use and feel comfortable with on third down in protection.”
Samkon Gado, who was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster last week, also could get some carries at halfback. He had one rush for 8 yards last week at Cincinnati.
Injury update: Linebacker Na’il Diggs probably will miss one more game because of the torn medial-collateral ligament in his right knee.
Diggs split time in practice this week between the Packers’ defense and scout team and physically is relatively close to full speed. But he’s missed so much practice in training camp and this season that Sherman probably will give him another week of practice to get acclimated to his assignments before putting him back on the field.
Diggs missed five weeks in training camp and early this season because of a similar injury to his left knee, and he’s five weeks removed from his current injury. Paris Lenon has started the last two games in Diggs’ place.
“(Diggs’) familiarity with the defense isn’t quite where you’d like it to be,” Sherman said.
Receiver Antonio Chatman missed practice Friday and was added to the Packers’ injury list because of a bruised quadriceps sustained in practice Thursday, but he’s expected to play. He’s listed as probable (75 percent chance of playing).
Besides Chatman and Fisher, two other players missed practice Friday: receiver Robert Ferguson (knee), who’s doubtful (25 percent chance of playing) and not expected to suit up, and tight end David Martin (groin), who’s questionable and also appears unlikely to play.
Three other players, all starters, were listed as probable and practiced Friday: tight end Bubba Franks (knee), center Mike Flanagan (hernia) and cornerback Al Harris (knee).
The Steelers probably will be missing two starters Sunday, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who’s out after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Backup running back Jerome Bettis (quadriceps) didn’t practice, is listed as doubtful and isn’t expected to play.
Everyone else on the Steelers practiced Friday, including backup defensive lineman Travis Kirschke (back), who’s listed as questionable.
source : www.packersnews.com
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