Neal likely out for remainder of season

Captain Erv · Post #1 » by **Captain Erv** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:16 am

R U Serious?

Packers rookie Neal may miss rest of year
Shoulder injury may place him on IR

By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel

Oct. 22, 2010 9:55 p.m. |(1) Comments

Green Bay — Rookie defensive end MikeNeal of the Green Bay Packers has a serious shoulder injury and probably will miss the rest of the season.

The Packers haven't made known the type or extent of Neal's injury, but sources said it didn't look good for him to return this season.

It's possible that Neal could be placed on injured reserve Saturday if the club, as expected, needs a roster spot in order to activate cornerback Al Harris from the physically unable to perform list.

Linebacker Brady Poppinga, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday, also is a candidate for season-ending injured reserve.

Neal, an impressive second-round draft choice from Purdue, aggravated an existing injury to his right shoulder Oct. 10 in Washington and hasn't practiced since.

On Wednesday, coach Mike McCarthy declared Neal out of the Minnesota game. Neal attended practice Friday as an observer.

Neal had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder after his 2007 season for the Boilermakers.

After playing well in training camp, Neal suffered rib cartilage damage in practice Sept. 8 and missed the first three games. He played 26 snaps against Detroit and then 52 more against Washington, drawing praise from Redskins' players and coaches for his power and quickness.

Mike Trgovac, who coaches the defensive line, said he was "very" worried that Neal's injury was long term.

"That's a shame," said Trgovac. "He's going to be a really good player."

With Neal, the Packers had a more explosive alternative than Ryan Pickett at left end in the base defense. In nickel, he gave the Packers an effective third rusher along with Cullen Jenkins and B.J. Raji for the two inside berths.

Without Neal, the three starters will have to play more snaps than the team would prefer. It also means a dramatic drop-off at end to C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn and Michael Montgomery.

There was good news regarding Jenkins. The club he has worn to protect his broken left hand since Sept. 12 was reduced in size this week.

"Instead of being a club he's got a couple fingers that are out so he might be able to get a little bit more of a grasp," Trgovac said. "Anything he can do to get a little bit more grip is a plus for him."

Jenkins, who has four sacks, probably has missed at least four others mainly because of his restricted ability to grab, according to Trgovac.

Post #2 » by **MickeyDavis** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:56 am

Justin Neal. Great.

MikeIsGood · Post #3 » by **MikeIsGood** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:17 am

Figures.

an_also · Post #4 » by **an_also** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:03 am

standard

Mags FTW · Post #5 » by **Mags FTW** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:09 am

We should start an injury pool.

PackerBacker89 · Post #6 » by **PackerBacker89** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:26 am

He plays one **** game and now is maybe out the rest of the year. Harrell the second indeed.

El Duderino · Post #7 » by **El Duderino** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:40 am

PackerBacker89 wrote:He plays one **** game and now is maybe out the rest of the year. Harrell the second indeed.

I wouldn't jump to that conclusion yet

Harrell had injury issues in high school and then suffered multiple injuries in college. Neal missed a few games in college, but he didn't come in here with an injury history like Harrell did.

JayMKE · Post #8 » by **JayMKE** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:41 am

this season sucks so much

xTitan · Post #9 » by **xTitan** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:21 am

Harrell was a much better college player than Neal when Healthy....hmmm...lets see, a jacked up muscle bound freak who has had 1 injury after another....make your own f'ing conclusions.

SteveScheffler · Post #10 » by **SteveScheffler** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:26 am

can i blame ted thomspon for this?

RiotPunch · Post #11 » by **RiotPunch** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:32 am

F*cking unbelievable...

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #12 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:27 pm

Bucksfans1and2 · Post #13 » by **Bucksfans1and2** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:58 pm

RRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRR

Why god Why?

raysbookclub · Post #14 » by **raysbookclub** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:11 pm

This is unreal.

I read a few weeks ago that McCarthy doesn't think it's a strength and conditioning issue (meaning the strength and conditioning coach). But I can't help but think that that coach is not doing something right. Isn't his job to keep people strong and not injured?

Post #15 » by **humanrefutation** » Sat Oct 23, 2010 7:24 pm

I just can't help but laugh at this point. You could fill in the blank of this headline "_______likely out for remainder of season" with any player and I wouldn't be surprised.

Ayt · Post #16 » by **Ayt** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:52 pm

xTitan wrote:Harrell was a much better college player than Neal when Healthy....hmmm...lets see, a jacked up muscle bound freak who has had 1 injury after another....make your own f'ing conclusions.

What is your conclusion?

Post #17 » by **Wade-A-Holic** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:39 pm

@mneal96: Surgery tomorrow. Injuries are part of the game but I'm ready for this surgery. I'm attacking it not letting it attack me!

I love this guy's attitude. When he was hurt earlier in the season, I had read that he was spending more time in the trainer's room than they even knew what to do with him because he was so eager to get back out there.

I'm not at all saying that Harrell wasn't aggressive in trying to get healthy and on the field, but I never got the impression that he has the competitive fire that Neal appears to have.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #18 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:00 pm

TomSilverstein tom silverstein
DC Dom Capers said Packers DE Mike Neal has a rotator cuff tear, but doesn't think it will prevent him from being ready for the '11 season.