MJZiggy
09-21-2006, 09:30 PM
Sore knee bothering TE Martin
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
David Martin is back in a familiar place  on the injury report.
The Green Bay Packers' backup tight end's injury history is a longer list than his on-the-field accomplishments. This year, however, missing Martin could be more costly than ever.
The veteran tight end, whose inability to stay healthy has stunted what some believed would be a productive career, has become more involved in the offense than at any time during his pro career. The converted wide receiver has gotten a large workload as the No. 2 tight end in the litany of multiple tight-end sets first-year coach Mike McCarthy has used.
On top of that, Martin has served as the primary backup behind William Henderson, the only true fullback on the roster after Vonta Leach was cut last week.
In his expanded role, Martin had a career-high six catches in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints but when he woke up the next morning, a knee was sore and swollen. He didn't practice on Wednesday and was listed as questionable on the injury report.
If Martin doesn't play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, it will ensure he won't play in all 16 regular-season games for the fifth time in his six NFL seasons. He has missed games in his career because of knee, groin and shoulder injuries and concussions in two different seasons.
Martin admitted Wednesday his career hasn't been what he thought it could have been. His best season in terms of productivity was last year, when he caught 27 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns  all career highs  in only 12 games.
"Not even close," Martin said. "After my rookie year, a lot of people had high expectations of me. Last year was a pretty decent year for me, but those years before that weren't what I had hoped. It's been kind of a roller-coaster ride."
Seemingly every year in training camp, Martin has been in a fight for a job. But so far, he has held on in large part due to the promise he showed as a rookie, when he caught 13 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. Until last season, he never caught more passes than that in any single year.
"I think my best years are still to come," Martin said.
Though the Packers are counting on Martin more, they might be better equipped to handle things if he succumbs to injuries again. General Manager Ted Thompson kept four tight ends, and the other two backups, Tory Humphrey and Donald Lee, have practiced in the backup fullback role and could assume most of Martin's duties. The Packers kept three tight ends active the first two weeks, leaving Humphrey off the 45-man game-day roster.
"Tory got some work today, and we feel very comfortable with the depth we have at that position," coach Mike McCarthy said.
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
David Martin is back in a familiar place  on the injury report.
The Green Bay Packers' backup tight end's injury history is a longer list than his on-the-field accomplishments. This year, however, missing Martin could be more costly than ever.
The veteran tight end, whose inability to stay healthy has stunted what some believed would be a productive career, has become more involved in the offense than at any time during his pro career. The converted wide receiver has gotten a large workload as the No. 2 tight end in the litany of multiple tight-end sets first-year coach Mike McCarthy has used.
On top of that, Martin has served as the primary backup behind William Henderson, the only true fullback on the roster after Vonta Leach was cut last week.
In his expanded role, Martin had a career-high six catches in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints but when he woke up the next morning, a knee was sore and swollen. He didn't practice on Wednesday and was listed as questionable on the injury report.
If Martin doesn't play Sunday against the Detroit Lions, it will ensure he won't play in all 16 regular-season games for the fifth time in his six NFL seasons. He has missed games in his career because of knee, groin and shoulder injuries and concussions in two different seasons.
Martin admitted Wednesday his career hasn't been what he thought it could have been. His best season in terms of productivity was last year, when he caught 27 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns  all career highs  in only 12 games.
"Not even close," Martin said. "After my rookie year, a lot of people had high expectations of me. Last year was a pretty decent year for me, but those years before that weren't what I had hoped. It's been kind of a roller-coaster ride."
Seemingly every year in training camp, Martin has been in a fight for a job. But so far, he has held on in large part due to the promise he showed as a rookie, when he caught 13 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. Until last season, he never caught more passes than that in any single year.
"I think my best years are still to come," Martin said.
Though the Packers are counting on Martin more, they might be better equipped to handle things if he succumbs to injuries again. General Manager Ted Thompson kept four tight ends, and the other two backups, Tory Humphrey and Donald Lee, have practiced in the backup fullback role and could assume most of Martin's duties. The Packers kept three tight ends active the first two weeks, leaving Humphrey off the 45-man game-day roster.
"Tory got some work today, and we feel very comfortable with the depth we have at that position," coach Mike McCarthy said.