Randall underwent surgery; Banjo placed on IR
The Green Bay Packers will have a thin cornerback depth chart for at least a few weeks after Damarious Randall had surgery to repair a groin injury over the weekend, league sources told PackersNews.
Typical recovery time for the type of surgery Randall underwent ranges from four to six weeks. It could put the second-year cornerback on track to return by early December, though recovery depends on the person. A source close to Randall said he is doing well after surgery.
The Packers also placed safety Chris Banjo (hamstring) on injured reserve Monday afternoon, according to a league source.
Randall, the team's No. 1 corner with Sam Shields on IR, posted photos of himself in Philadelphia over Snapchat last week. His surgery was done in Philly by core muscle surgeon Dr. William Meyers, according to an ESPN report. Meyers is the nation's premier sports hernia surgeon. He has operated on several Packers players over the years, including receiver Greg Jennings, outside linebacker Mike Neal and center Mike Flanagan.
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Randall missed Thursday's game against the Chicago Bears after reaggravating his groin injury four days earlier against the Dallas Cowboys. He was unable to finish the Packers loss to the Cowboys.
At the time, Randall said he didn't believe playing against the Cowboys damaged his groin injury more.
“I just felt like I can’t keep on playing like this," Randall said, "because I don’t want to reinjure it.”
The Packers' cornerback depth chart has been depleted. Top corner Sam Shields was placed on injured reserve last week after missing four games with his fifth documented concussion. Shields won't be eligible to return until Week 15 at the earliest, but may be done for the season since running back Eddie Lacy joined him on IR.
Fellow cornerback Quinten Rollins also missed the Packers past two games with a groin injury. Ideally, the Packers hope Rollins can return Sunday in Atlanta, but next week's game against the Indianapolis Colts might be more likely. If Rollins misses his third straight game, the Packers would have a thin secondary this weekend against one of the NFL's elite receivers, Julio Jones.
So the Packers secondary situation remains dire, but it could be worse. Randall is expected back this season, at some point.
Until then, LaDarius Gunter, a second-year cornerback who was undrafted last year, will continue to be the Packers top cover man on the perimeter.
Banjo, meanwhile, has been bothered by hamstring injuries all season. The first injury took place in an exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers and kept him out for the first two weeks of the regular season. He debuted against the Detroit Lions and returned to his role as a core special teams player and backup safety.
But two weeks later — after the Week 4 bye — Banjo injured a hamstring in the win over the New York Giants. He has not played or practiced since.