Who can the Packers least afford to get injured?

[CaliforniaCheez]

When you consider the Packers chances of success the upcoming season, injuries and depth are major concerns. It may help you consider where depth is needed in the draft.

The players I think the Packers can least afford to miss time are:

1) Rodgers
2) Woodson
3) Harris
4) Clifton
5) Collins
6) Jenkins
7) Matthews
8) Driver
9) Pickett
10) Grant

These are the players that have to be on the field all season.
Who do you think the Packers can least afford to be without?

[DannoMac21]

1) Aaron Rodgers
2) Aaron Rodgers
3) Aaron Rodgers

[Fritz]

Rodgers
Woodson
Clifton
Matthews
Jennings
Jenkins
Raji
Pickett
Barnett
Finley

[wist43]

1) Rodgers - lose your QB, in a QB driven system, ur done
2) Woodson
3) Matthews - offenses will account for him next year
4) Jolly - for my money he was our best DL last year
5) Collins - if only b/c we have no one else
6) Tramon Williams - same reason as for Collins
7) Clifton - automatic in pass pro, no one behind him
8) Jenkins - decent depth on the line, but he's a good player
9) Pickett
10) Raji


Everybody else can be replaced... not saying there wouldn't be some diminishment, but there is either decent depth behind a guy, or the starter isn't a world beater to begin with.

Those 10 guys would either be tough to replace, or they are special players...

I put Raji on the list b/c he has the ability to be a difference maker. The high ankle sprain really set him back, and with a year in an NFL offseason program, I expect him to make a big jump.

[Joemailman]

Jay Cutler

[RashanGary]

1) Rodgers - lose your QB, in a QB driven system, ur done
2) Woodson
3) Matthews - offenses will account for him next year
4) Jolly - for my money he was our best DL last year
5) Collins - if only b/c we have no one else
6) Tramon Williams - same reason as for Collins
7) Clifton - automatic in pass pro, no one behind him
8) Jenkins - decent depth on the line, but he's a good player
9) Pickett
10) Raji


Everybody else can be replaced... not saying there wouldn't be some diminishment, but there is either decent depth behind a guy, or the starter isn't a world beater to begin with.

Those 10 guys would either be tough to replace, or they are special players...

I put Raji on the list b/c he has the ability to be a difference maker. The high ankle sprain really set him back, and with a year in an NFL offseason program, I expect him to make a big jump.

I like Wist's. I'd move Clifton to #3 below Woodson, keep it the same otherwise. Our division, we can't afford to lose our LT. This whole list could change after the draft.

[Joemailman]

I'd put Collins ahead of Jolly. A combination of Raji and Wynn could more adequately replace Jolly than anyone we have to replace Collins. In fact, with a healthy Al Harris, I might put Collins ahead of Woodson.

[red]

we can still make a run if we lose any one guy, as long as we don't lose a bunch of guys we'll be ok

except for rodgers. a-rod goes down and we're done

[Gunakor]

That list is far too big IMO. Aaron Rodgers is the #1 guy who can't get injured for any length of time. Nick Collins is #2, and Ryan Grant is #3. Beyond that I don't see anybody on the list that doesn't have a fair amount of depth behind him on the chart. Most of those guys have missed games due to injury in the past and we've overcome.

It took 3 injuries in our defensive backfield before we crumbled - so as far as that group specifically is concerned, I'd say it's vital that we don't lose both Woodson AND Harris. But one or the other I think we could manage.

The DL doesn't concern me as much injury wise. If Pickett or Jolly or Jenkins get injured, Raji could fill in and play any of the 3 DL positions. If we lost 2 starters on the DL I'd start to worry, but again, just one I think we'd get by okay.

Of our linebackers, Matthews is the only standout as a starter. Behind the starters are a couple above average backups in Brady Poppinga and Brandon Chillar, each of whom have a fair amount of starting experience. There's also Desmond Bishop, who needs to work on his coverage skills but plays well at the LOS. I think we could sustain a couple injuries to our LB corps and be just fine.

I'd comment on the offensive line, but truth be told there aren't many on that line I'm happy with even when healthy. Clifton deserves to be on this list as we don't have much behind him at left tackle (draft pending of course), but aside from him and Josh Sitton I don't think the starters are a whole helluva lot better than the guys behind them. Spitz could fill in at LG and C just as effectively as Colledge and Wells are, and Lang should be nearly as effective at RT as Tauscher is. We've been playing musical chairs on that line for two years now anyway. Something tells me that isn't going to change this year.

[Brandon494]

I would go #1 A-Rod, #2 Woodson, #3 Matthews.

[sharpe1027]

Re: Who can the Packers least afford to get injured?

Based upon how big of a drop off there would be in the likely replacement here's my take:

1) Rodgers - Duh?
2) Grant - Often over looked, but wow, there's just nothing behind him.
3) Woodson - Just plays so damn well that I don't care how good T. Will is.
4) Matthews - Nobody else on the roster brings what he does.
5) Clifton - Maybe Lang would do OK...you don't want to be forced to take that risk.
6) Finley - Compared to Lee/Havner...maybe he should be even higher?
7) Collins - Might suffer if he is out, but can probably cover up his replacement easier than some other positions.
8) Barnett - Better than many people think he is IMHO.
9) Jennings - Jones/Nelson are often overrated.

[mission]

I would go #1 A-Rod, #2 Woodson, #3 Matthews.

This is my vote. Easy.

[Pugger]

Jay Cutler

[Guiness]

I'm with Gunakor in saying that it's important Woodson AND Harris don't get injured. Yes, Woodson is great, DPOY great, but we do have some depth back there and losing one player won't break the system. I'd even argue we could lose Collins; I think Woodson would move to safety, and TWill would start at CB.

Clifton is a big ?. I think we saw Colledge isn't ever going to play there. Lang is a possibility, but that would be taking a chance.

Next on my list is Grant. I think if he were to go down, we'd be making phone calls in a hurry.

Barnett is something to look at as well. When he went down a couple of years ago, the D really dropped off. Is he less of a keystone in the 3-4? Could Chillar or Bishop fill his role?

[hoosier]

Jay Cutler