Packers OLB Nick Perry was placed on injured reserve after he underwent surgery to repair his wrist. (US Presswire) |
In the midst of their bye week, the Packers made three roster moves on Wednesday, including two involving their most recent first round draft picks.
The Packers placed OLB Nick Perry on injured reserve after the rookie underwent surgery to repair damage in his wrist. The team also announced that TE Andrew Quarless had been activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Quarless, who suffered torn knee ligaments last December, was not allowed to play for the first six weeks of the season but had been practicing the past three and is now on the 53-man roster.
Green Bay, according to the NFL transaction wire, also exercised their roster exemption on second-year OT Derek Sherrod, who suffered a broken tibia last December. Sherrod will remain on the PUP list and can practice with the Packers for the next three weeks, at which point the team will have to either activate him, cut him or place him on IR.
Sherrod, the Packers’ 2011 first round pick, seemed the furthest behind of the three players who started the season on the PUP list, including Quarless and Frank Zombo, who was activated last week. His broken leg was a gruesome injury, but the team may feel pressured to see what he can do after starting RT Bryan Bulaga hurt his hip in last week’s win over the Cardinals. Bulaga, who may be out an extended period of time, is reportedly going to see a specialist to determine exactly what is wrong and how serious his injury is.
LG T.J. Lang moved over to Bulaga’s spot against Arizona and played well. Lang has played tackle a couple times before, but the only true backup at RT is undrafted Don Barclay. The Packers could be trying to hedge their bets, hoping they can get Sherrod ready to play if Bulaga can’t return or there are more injuries.
Quarless has been vocally adamant about returning to the team and playing this season. Back in training camp, he said he was ready, though the Packers put him on PUP anyway. Now, he’ll join the other four tight ends on the Green Bay roster to see if his blend of athleticism, receiving and blocking ability and special teams play can help the team.
Perry hurt his wrist early in the season but was playing through it until he suffered a knee injury in Week 6. He's officially out the rest of the year. It’s a big blow for the Packers’ defense, specifically a pass rush that had been much-improved this year.
When coach Mike McCarthy announced on Monday that Perry (18 tackles, two sacks) was seeking a second medical opinion, it was initially assumed he meant for Perry’s knee. But regardless of what kind of knee injury Perry was dealing with, his damaged wrist was not going to allow him to play again this season.
The Packers may continue to fill Perry’s LOLB spot in-house. Erik Walden has played very well, and rookie Dezman Moses has shown flashes of potential, too. With ROLB Clay Matthews sidelined a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, and ILBs Desmond Bishop and D.J. Smith on IR, Green Bay is growing thin at linebacker.
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.