MJZiggy
05-04-2006, 07:51 AM
Green, Clifton will miss first minicamp
By Rob Demovsky
PackersNews.com
It’s only the first minicamp, but the Green Bay Packers will be without at least two key starters on offense.
Left tackle Chad Clifton and running back Ahman Green will be among the players held out of workouts when practice begins on Friday afternoon. Coach Mike McCarthy said on Wednesday that Clifton won’t practice because he’s still recovering from offseason knee and ankle surgeries.
“Weââ €šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ll probably hold him out this camp just to be safe,†McCarthy said.
That means the Packers’ new-look offensive line won’t be intact until at least the next minicamp, May 19 to 21. It’s unclear who will work at left tackle with the No. 1 offense, but it’s not likely to be second-round draft pick Daryn Colledge. Though Colledge played tackle at Boise State, the Packers are hoping he can win one of the starting guard spots, so they’ll almost certainly put him there right away.
Green still is several months away from returning from his torn quadriceps tendon. It’s unlikely he’ll participate in any of the offseason practices, and it’s not even a given he’ll be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
McCarthy said backup running back Najeh Davenport (broken leg) also is unlikely to practice, but Samkon Gado, the running back who came out of nowhere last year only to have his season cut short by a knee injury, is expected to practice.
McCarthy also said he hasn’t decided how much quarterback Brett Favre will do in the four practices this weekend.
“I want to visit with Brett tomorrow,†McCarthy said on Wednesday. “He gets into town tonight.â€ÂÂ
Others not expected to practice this weekend include safety Jeremy Thornburg (shoulder), linebacker Brady Poppinga (knee) and linebacker Kurt Campbell (knee). McCarthy said the following players could practice if they get clearance from team doctors during today’s physical exams: punter B.J. Sander (leg), cornerback Jason Horton (shoulder), running back Chaz Williams (ankle), tight end Bubba Franks (neck) and receiver Robert Ferguson (knee).
Sixth-round draft pick Johnny Jolly, a defensive end from Texas A&M, also could be held out. He has a sprained ankle, which the Packers knew about when they drafted him, and will be re-examined today.
“Itââ €šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s basically a high ankle sprain with some loose bone chips,†said Jolly’s agent, Brian Overstreet.
By Rob Demovsky
PackersNews.com
It’s only the first minicamp, but the Green Bay Packers will be without at least two key starters on offense.
Left tackle Chad Clifton and running back Ahman Green will be among the players held out of workouts when practice begins on Friday afternoon. Coach Mike McCarthy said on Wednesday that Clifton won’t practice because he’s still recovering from offseason knee and ankle surgeries.
“Weââ €šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ll probably hold him out this camp just to be safe,†McCarthy said.
That means the Packers’ new-look offensive line won’t be intact until at least the next minicamp, May 19 to 21. It’s unclear who will work at left tackle with the No. 1 offense, but it’s not likely to be second-round draft pick Daryn Colledge. Though Colledge played tackle at Boise State, the Packers are hoping he can win one of the starting guard spots, so they’ll almost certainly put him there right away.
Green still is several months away from returning from his torn quadriceps tendon. It’s unlikely he’ll participate in any of the offseason practices, and it’s not even a given he’ll be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
McCarthy said backup running back Najeh Davenport (broken leg) also is unlikely to practice, but Samkon Gado, the running back who came out of nowhere last year only to have his season cut short by a knee injury, is expected to practice.
McCarthy also said he hasn’t decided how much quarterback Brett Favre will do in the four practices this weekend.
“I want to visit with Brett tomorrow,†McCarthy said on Wednesday. “He gets into town tonight.â€ÂÂ
Others not expected to practice this weekend include safety Jeremy Thornburg (shoulder), linebacker Brady Poppinga (knee) and linebacker Kurt Campbell (knee). McCarthy said the following players could practice if they get clearance from team doctors during today’s physical exams: punter B.J. Sander (leg), cornerback Jason Horton (shoulder), running back Chaz Williams (ankle), tight end Bubba Franks (neck) and receiver Robert Ferguson (knee).
Sixth-round draft pick Johnny Jolly, a defensive end from Texas A&M, also could be held out. He has a sprained ankle, which the Packers knew about when they drafted him, and will be re-examined today.
“Itââ €šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s basically a high ankle sprain with some loose bone chips,†said Jolly’s agent, Brian Overstreet.