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Returning to practice Monday night for the first time since Saturday night’s troubling showing in a 34-6 loss at San Francisco, the shuffling remained on the line. And the problems were exacerbated by center Scott Wells’ recurring “trunk” injury — a lower back muscle injury that caused him to miss the exhibition opener and may force him to miss Friday night’s third preseason game at Denver.
With Wells out and left tackle Chad Clifton resting because he was “sore,” according to coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers’ No. 1 line Monday night at Clarke Hinkle Field consisted of Tony Moll at left tackle, Daryn Colledge at left guard, Jason Spitz at center, Josh Sitton at right guard and Mark Tauscher at right tackle.
McCarthy added Clifton’s situation is “nothing major,” and it’s likely Clifton will play against the Broncos since it is the most important tune-up before the regular season.
The second unit had Colledge at left tackle, Allen Barbre at left guard, Junius Coston at center, Moll at right guard and Breno Giacomini at right tackle. Moll also worked some at left guard and Barbre saw time at left tackle with the scout team.
“We’re going to look at a different rotation because (of Clifton and Wells) not being able to go,” McCarthy said. “Daryn was working both left tackle and left guard, Josh Sitton is still at the right guard, and Jason had to play center, so we’re still going through that process.”
Asked about Wells’ injury, which McCarthy said “flared up” in Saturday night, McCarthy said Wells is experiencing pain on the opposite side as before. McCarthy said the medical staff ran tests on Wells Monday, the results of which will be available today.
With Wells’ injury and Spitz, who started at left guard against the 49ers moving over, Colledge worked at left guard, his primary position. But Colledge, who played right guard and left tackle against the 49ers, knows that’s subject to change.
“I didn’t know I was the left guard until an hour before practice,” Colledge said. “I’m just showing up. I’ve got a dance card, and if it gets punched, it gets punched. We all show up, we find out who’s injured, we find out who’s ready to go and we move around.
“As of today, I’m the starting left guard (against Denver). If somebody gets injured, something happens, you never know. But as of right now, I’m planning to be left guard until I hear otherwise.”
Spitz struggled at left guard Saturday, allowing a pair of sacks, and when McCarthy was asked whether he still feels Spitz can play that position, McCarthy replied, “I’m not ready to make a decision.” McCarthy then added the Packers “don’t know enough” about the severity of Wells’ injury at this point, an ominous sign.
“You’ve just got to roll with the punches. You never know what’s going to happen. You never know who’s going to be available,” Spitz said. “So you’ve just got to go where they tell you.”
Asked about how he played against San Francisco, Spitz replied, “Obviously, I was embarrassed at the way we played, but luckily for us, it was during the preseason and hopefully we can learn from it, learn what not to do and move on and get better.”
For his part, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he can’t worry about the uncertainty in front of him.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Rodgers said. “Spitty’s a great center. Guys will step up and play well. The best five is going to be out there.”
