Huddle Up: Ranking Nelson's injury
Each week, Press-Gazette Media will look at national stories involving the Green Bay Packers as well as stories about their opponents this season:
Packers: How costly was the loss of wide receiver Jordy Nelson for the season? Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com ranks Nelson’s torn ACL as the ninth-biggest NFL injury so far (with the fractured clavicle suffered by Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo ranking No. 1).
Packers: Green Bay utilized pass plays during its decisive fourth-quarter drive against Seattle that some around the NFL feel bordered on being illegal, writes Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com.
Seahawks: Tight end Jimmy Graham was a non-factor in Seattle’s 27-17 loss to the Packers on Sunday. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times looks at the reasons why Graham, a prolific pass catcher with the Saints, was limited to one reception (on only two targets) for 11 yards in Green Bay.
Chiefs: The return of safety Eric Berry after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma last December has provided a huge emotional lift, writes Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
49ers: Is Colin Kaepernick better off without having Jim Harbaugh as his coach? As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, Kaepernick says the new coaching staff is tailoring the offense to his strengths and “I’m being asked to be myself this year.”
Rams: Rookie Todd Gurley looms as another potentially daunting challenge for the Packers’ run defense. Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the former Georgia star said he will be ready to play if asked against Pittsburgh this weekend after working his way back from ACL surgery last November.
Chargers: With only one sack in the first two games, San Diego’s pass rush must improve if the Chargers hope to win the AFC West, writes Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Lions: A rebuilt offensive line has struggled mightily in Detroit’s two season-opening losses, and Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press writes that the Lions quickly are running out of time to fix it.
Vikings: Coach Mike Zimmer shrugged off accusations by Lions receiver Golden Tate that the Vikings took some cheap shots during Sunday’s game. As Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes, Zimmer told reporters, “I know what kind of team we were. We’re not dirty.”
Bears: Although coach John Fox has been declining to confirm it, Jay Cutler (hamstring) will not start Sunday against the Seahawks, writes Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. That leaves backup Jimmy Clausen with the unenviable challenge of leading the Bears into Seattle to face a hungry 0-2 team that is getting safety Kam Chancellor back from his holdout.
— scourtney@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Stucourt.