The Green Bay Packers have been by hit hard by injuries has 1 comments

Oct 11th 2010, 21:20 | FFN-Score: 30 points

The Green Bay Packers have been by hit hard by significant injuries to several key players, threatening to derail their season.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that two players are scheduled for surgery: tight end Jermichael Finley on his knee and linebacker Nick Barnett on his wrist. McCarthy sounded optimistic that Finley will return this season and is holding out hope that Barnett also might be back.

Barnett injured the wrist during the Packers' 28-26 victory over the Detroit Lions on Oct. 3.

By electing to have surgery this week, Barnett potentially could return in eight weeks, if his wrist heals correctly, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Packers would be required to hold a roster spot for Barnett if they want to wait for him to heal.

"I really can't speculate if we'll hold on to one player versus another," McCarthy said. "Anytime you deal with injuries -- when you get to the six-to-eight-week mark -- those are tough decisions to make."

NFL.com's Steve Wyche reported last week that the team is preparing to move forward without Barnett for the rest of the season.

Finley, who injured his knee during the Packers' 16-13 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, will have a minor knee scope on Tuesday.

"I'll be surprised if it's season ending," McCarthy said.

A league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora that Finley is expected to be out three weeks.

Other items for McCarthy's news conference Monday:

» Concussed quarterback Aaron Rodgers will miss at least some practice time this week. His availability for this Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins is unclear. Rodgers sustained a concussion late in Sunday's overtime loss at Washington. "The concussion did occur on the last play," McCarthy said. "It was fairly evident based on the communication ... just the way (Rodgers) acted. ... We'll definitely take the proper time to see that he recovers."

» Tight end Donald Lee, who suffered a shoulder injury Sunday, could miss a couple of weeks.

» Linebacker Clay Matthews, who suffered a hamstring strain in the game, had a positive meeting with doctors.