For the Packers, the bad news just keeps coming: Barnett on IR

The Green Bay Packers wound up doing today what has been anticipated for at least the last week: they placed starting LB Nick Barnett on injured reserve following his wrist surgery Wednesday. This is the second time in three years that Barnett's season has been cut short with injury. Understandably, Barnett tweeted this morning, and I quote, ":-( f#%^*". And he added, ":-( f......k".

Guess that not only sums up Barnett's frame of mind today but that of many if not most Packer fans regarding not only the loss of Barnett but the entire injury situation with the Pack. Lost for the season, of course, are RB Ryan Grant, S Morgan Burnett, S Derrick Martin, and DE Justin Harrell. The jury is still out on TE Jermichael Finley, but given that he will be out perhaps 8 weeks at least, the Packers might just decide to shut him down for the season, as well, to open up a roster spot in a roster that has quickly been depleted only about a third of the way into the NFL season.

Here's a quick look -- unofficial -- at the Pack's injury status:

PLAYER	INJURY	STATUS
LB Nick Barnett	Wrist	Out for Season
RB Ryan Grant	Ankle	Out for Season
DE Justin Harrell	Knee	Out for Season
S Derrick Martin	Knee	Out for Season
S Morgan Burnett	Knee	Out for Season
S Atari Bigby	Knee	PUP List - eligible after Game 6
CB Al Harris	Knee	PUP List - eligible after Game 6
TE Jermichael Finley	Knee	Likely Out for Season
RT Mark Tauscher	Shoulder	Likely out for Sunday, Week to Week
LB Brandon Chillar	Shoulder	Has missed 2 games, may play Sunday
CB Sam Shields	Calf	Has missed 2 games, may play Sunday
TE Donald Lee	Chest Sprain	Likely out for 1-2 games
LB Clay Matthews	Hamstring	Likely to miss Sunday's game
DL Ryan Pickett	Ankle	Questionable for Sunday
QB Aaron Rodgers	Concussion	Probable for Sunday pending tests
WR Donald Driver	Quad	Probable
LT Chad Clifton	Knee	Probable
S Nick Collins	Knee	Probable
DL Cullen Jenkins	Hamstring/Hand	Probable
FB Quinn Johnson	Glute	Probable
DE Mike Neal	Shoulder	Questionable
CB Charles Woodson	Toe	Probable

Obviously, the plethora (look it up!) of injuries which have hit the Packers will not only impact this Sunday's game against the Fish, but the remainder of the season. Whether or not the young and untested players can rise to the occasion will determine to a great extent whether or not the Pack will make the playoffs. Two-thirds of the season remains. But the bye week is still a month off. The coaching staff will have to be very wise as to who, how and when they utilize the members of the roster. Special teams coach Shawn Slocum is having to scramble to fill spots on his squads because a number of those regulars are now being called upon to fill more pressing spots on offense and defense. So a weak spot on the team has become even weaker. Oh boy...

All together now...Let us pray...

Packers re-sign DE Mike Montgomery
To fill Barnett's roster spot, the Packers wasted little time re-signing DE Mike Montgomery who was a sixth round draft choice by the Pack in the 2005 NFL Draft. He played in 56 games with eight starts during his five seasons with the team. He had signed with the ViQueens in March but was released on their final roster cutdown. He'll be wearing number 99. With rookie DE Mike Neal possibly out Sunday, and Ryan Pickett having a sore ankle, being able to plug Montgomery in immediately with a system he knows is a good re-signing by GM Ted Thompson.

Injuries so soon

One of the things that concerns Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy -- and should concern Packers fans, too -- is the number of injuries so early in the season. Obviously, it's a part of football. But to have so many starters sitting out or being limited in practice, and so many other players on injured reserve...not so good.

Among the 15 players on Wednesday's injury report are: tight end Bubba Franks (knee), receiver Greg Jennings (hamstring), cornerbacks Al Harris (back) and Charles Woodson (hip), defensive tackle Corey Williams (ankle), tackle Chad Clifton (ankle), defensive end Cullen Jenkins (wrist), defensive tackle Johnny Jolly (heel), defensive end Aaron Kampman (rib), tackle Tony Moll (neck), running back Vernand Morency (knee), safety Aaron Rouse (hamstring) and guard Jason Spitz (calf). At this point, all are still possible for Sunday's game but that could change, of course.

There are also eight players on injured reserve and it could become nine, as reserve guard Tony Palmer had what they are calling a "minor" fracture in his neck while playing special teams on Sunday. He's out at least 6-8 weeks...which means the Pack may just place him on IR to free up a roster space for someone who can contribute now.

Herron placed on IR; Pack picks up a fullback

It was inevitable. RB Noah Herron, who suffered a knee injury in last Thursday's game against the Titan and had arthroscopic surgery as a result, was placed on injured reserve. With that new available roster spot, the Packers then claimed FB John Kuhn on waivers from Pittsburgh. Kuhn is a second-year player out of Shippensburg (PA). He's 6-0, 255 pounds and holds 27 school records and six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference records. According to his Wikipedia entry (yeah...I know), "He finished his career with 4,685 yards rushing, 910 carries, 53 touchdowns, 5,300 all-purpose yards and 26 games with at least 100 yards rushing, all school records. Kuhn led the team in rushing for the third-straight season as a senior and is the only player in team history to total over 1,000 yards rushing in three-straight seasons." After spending 2005 on the Steelers' practice squad, Kuhn played in nine games with the Steelers in 2006. Again, not to minimize Kuhn's college career, but basically he's another body in a very weak backfield. (Sigh) But perhaps even stranger than the fact that there is a Wikipedia entry about him, Kuhn will actually join another Shippensburg University graduate on the Packers roster: long-snapper Rob Davis. Who knew?

In addition to these two moves, the Packers announced that they signed seven players to their practice squad: wide receiver David Clowney, wide receiver Chris Francies, tight end Clark Harris, linebacker Spencer Havner, tackle Orrin Thompson, quarterback Paul Thompson and running back Corey White. All these players were with the Packers in training camp and survived until the final cuts on Saturday. All, also, are good players worthy of developing further within the Packers fold.

Packers vs. Titans Replay on NFL Network Sunday 9/2 6 p.m. Central

As the headline here says...if you get the NFL Network and want to see all or part of the last preseason game against the Titans, it's on...NOW! (6 p.m. Central Sunday Sept. 2)