Packers cut missed practices in half
It will take years to properly determine if the changes the Green Bay Packers have made to their training regimen can solve their recurring injury problems, but the early returns are promising.
The Packers had 10 fewer players succumb to injury during training camp and saw total missed games and practices halved from 357 in 2013 to 173 this year, though there were two early camp practices not open to the media.
The Packers still had some casualties. They lost defensive lineman B.J. Raji (biceps), offensive lineman Don Barclay (knee) and receiver Jared Abbrederis (knee) for the season. Starting center JC Tretter (knee) will miss the first month of the season, as well.
However, they were able to keep more players on the practice field in this year's camp after implementing wide-reaching alterations to how they train players. The practice scheduled shifted, hydration levels were monitored and snacks were provided during TV timeouts.
After the Packers' 34-14 win over Kansas City Thursday night, coach Mike McCarthy said he didn't know if he's ever felt this good coming out of a preseason before. One reason for that is the amount of work the roster was able to get in during their 21 practices.
Time will tell if the pattern holds, but they're off to a good start.
With Saturday's cuts looming, here's a breakdown of which players missed time with injury in camp and also who saw the most action in the Packers' four preseason games:
Games/practices missed (19 practices open to media, 4 preseason games)
20 – DL Letroy Guion (hamstring)
18 – WR Jared Abbrederis (knee)
14 – TE Colt Lyerla (knee), OL Don Barclay (knee)
13 – DL Jerel Worthy (back)
12 – LB Joe Thomas (knee), RB Rajion Neal (knee)
8 – WR Jeff Janis (shingles), S Tanner Miller (ankle), TE Brandon Bostick (lower leg)
5 – LB Brad Jones (quad, dental procedure)
4 – LB Nick Perry (foot/knee), S Morgan Burnett (ankle, oblique), DL B.J. Raji (biceps), CB Demetri Goodson (concussion), OL Andrew Tiller (calf), OL JC Tretter (knee)
3 – LB Mike Neal (core/abdomen), RB Michael Hill (concussion)
2 – LB Jamari Lattimore (illness), WR Jordy Nelson (hamstring), WR Davante Adams (wrist), CB Casey Hayward (hamstring)
1 – C Corey Linsley (shoulder), DL Josh Boyd (ribs), OL Jordan McCray (shoulder)
Dropped out of finale – OL Aaron Adams (knee), DL Khyri Thornton (hamstring), LB Nate Palmer (knee), LB Adrian Hubbard (knee)
Total Preseason Snaps
Offense: OL Derek Sherrod (200), OL Aaron Adams (152), OL Lane Taylor (147), OL Corey Linsley (134), WR Davante Adams (121), QB Scott Tolzien (117), OL Garth Gerhart (112), WR Myles White (111), OL Andrew Tiller (108), OL Jeremy Vujnovich (98), QB Matt Flynn (98), WR Alex Gillett (97), WR Jarrett Boykin (94), OL Jordan McCray (88), OL JC Tretter (85), TE Andrew Quarless (79), OL John Fullington (78), WR Randall Cobb (77), OL Josh Sitton (77), OL T.J. Lang (77), OL Bryan Bulaga (77), OL David Bakhtiari (77), RB Michael Hill (74), TE Jake Stoneburner (72), QB Aaron Rodgers (69), WR Jordy Nelson (69), RB DuJuan Harris (69), RB LaDarius Perkins (68), TE Ryan Taylor (64), TE Richard Rodgers (64), WR Chris Harper (63), RB James Starks (59), WR Jeff Janis (58), TE Justin Perillo (52), WR Gerrard Sheppard (35), FB John Kuhn (26), FB Ina Liaina (22), RB Eddie Lacy (20), QB Chase Rettig (18), TE Brandon Bostick (15), RB Rajion Neal (11).
Defense: CB Jumal Rolle (170), S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (124), DL Luther Robinson (115), DB Micah Hyde (115), CB Ryan White (106), S Chris Banjo (100), S Sean Richardson (100), DL Mike Pennel (98), DL Khyri Thornton (96), LB Sam Barrington (94), LB Carl Bradford (94), DL Carlos Gray (91), LB Nate Palmer (92), LB Jake Doughty (89), CB Jarrett Bush (88), LB Andy Mulumba (81), LB Jayrone Elliott (79), CB Davon House (75), CB Demetri Goodson (72), LB Mike Neal (68), DL Josh Boyd (67), LB Korey Jones (67), LB Nick Perry (66), LB Jamari Lattimore (64), DL Datone Jones (60), S Tanner Miller (58), CB Casey Hayward (54), LB Clay Matthews (54), LB Julius Peppers (54), CB Tramon Williams (54), DL Mike Daniels (54), CB Sam Shields (53), LB Brad Jones (48), S Charles Clay (46), LB A.J. Hawk (41), LB Adrian Hubbard (40), S Morgan Burnett (34), DL B.J. Raji (30), CB Antonio Dennard (27), DL Letroy Guion (9), LB Joe Thomas (4).
Specialists:
K Mason Crosby (34), P Tim Masthay (32), LS Brett Goode (30).