Wynn cut; Harrell to PUP

DeShawn Wynn's injury-plagued stint as a Packer is over, and Justin Harrell's has hit another snag.

The Packers released four players today including Wynn, the second-year running back out of Florida, and placed Harrell on the physically unable to perform list after deciding the former first-round pick needs additional surgery on his troublesome back.

The team also released fullback Ryan Powdrell, receiver Chris Francies and offensive lineman Ryan Considine to reach the 75-man roster limit a day early. The deadline was 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Harrell recently received a second opinion on his back, which he injured a disc in while lifting weights early in the offseason program, had surgery on in April and aggravated in July.

"After consultation with Pat (McKenzie, the team doctor), we felt like another procedure would kind of hurry things along," General Manager Ted Thompson said this morning. "He's gotten himself in remarkable shape. I think our guys have done a great job in the rehab. But we've reached a point where we've sort of plateaued, and looking out over the timeline, we felt like it was going to take a few weeks without doing anything, but maybe doing a little extra procedure might hurry things along."

Placing Harrell on PUP means he'll be ineligible to return to the active roster until at least Week 7. Without getting into specifics, Thompson said the latest surgery will be a little different than the one Harrell underwent in April. It could be performed as soon as today.

"The quicker the better, obviously, because then you can kind of start back on the whole recovery thing," Thompson said.

"It's too bad. He's worked very hard, and I know being a high-profile pick, a No. 1 pick, there's a lot of pressure put on that and expectations of fans. It's not his fault, and he's trying his best to get back, and we're still counting on him to help us this year."

Like Harrell, Wynn dealt with injuries since the Packers took him in the 2007 draft, but as a seventh-round pick, he wasn't afforded a similar chance for redemption after missing two preseason games, because of an ankle injury suffered in the opener on Aug. 11. He also suffered a concussion early in training camp.

"Sometimes, guys have worse luck than others," Thompson said. "I think it's fair to bring everyone's attention, (Wynn) helped us win a couple games last year. In New York, in a tough place to play, a great (Giants) defense, he helped us win a game.

"He's a good player. He did the best he could. He had a sprained ankle, he wasn't able to compete, and the other guys competing for that spot -- I think it's more of a positive than anything else, that we've got other guys that have been out there and competing and doing a good job."

Wynn returned to practice on Sunday, so the team won't owe him an injury settlement.

Asked whether he thinks Wynn can play in the NFL, Thompson said, "I do. I think he has to do what he does, which is run the football. But in this league, you have to be available, and that's part of the requirement."

Francies appeared in six games in 2006 and one game last season, recording two receptions for 16 yards. Powdrell spent last season on injured reserve. Considine signed with the Packers as a rookie free agent in May.

-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com