Advertisement
Wynn, a seventh-round draft pick for the Packers last season, showed his running ability in four starts last season. But he also developed a reputation for fragility and didn’t do anything to change his coaches’ minds in training camp this year.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson doesn’t relish the thought of cutting anyone and had nothing but good things to say about Wynn on Monday.
“The NFL is a tough business and people get hurt,” Thompson said. “Sometimes guys have worse luck than others. I think it’s fair to bring everybody’s attention, he helped us win a couple games last year.”
Thompson said the decision to cut Wynn was based largely on the team’s depth at running back, and said he still believed Wynn can be a productive NFL player.
“I do,” Thompson said. “I think he has to do what he does, which is run the football, but in this league you have to be available. That’s part of the requirement, and it’s the thing that you run into this time of year.”
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said other running backs took advantage
of the repetitions Wynn missed in practice.
“He’s a talented young man, he’s got a bright future, but he needs to get healthy,” McCarthy said. “Some people, like I talked to DeShawn this morning about that, some players kind of go through a patch where they have a couple of injuries. I think he’s just kind of going through that patch right now in his career because he did a tremendous job in the weight room and the offseason program.”
Wynn was not present when the Packers’ locker room was open to the media Monday, but said last week that he wasn’t feeling sorry for himself.
“It’s not something you can sit there and cry about,” Wynn said. “It’s part of the game. Most of it is (not) preventable — ankles rolled up on. Disappointing, definitely missing the last preseason game and this one coming up. There’s not much (opportunity) to show the coaches what you’ve got in a game situation.”
The Packers also released fullback Ryan Powdrell, wide receiver Chris Francies and offensive lineman Ryan Considine on Monday.
Those moves, plus the addition of injured defensive tackle Justin Harrell to the reserve/physically unable to perform list, trimmed the Packers’ roster to 75 players well before the NFL’s Tuesday afternoon deadline for the first round of roster reductions.
The Packers must cut their roster to 53 by 5 p.m. Aug. 30.
SITTON OUT: Rookie Josh Sitton appeared to on his way to winning the starting right guard spot when he left Friday’s preseason game at Denver with a sprained knee. Sitton claimed not to know the specifics of his injury, and said he was week-to-week.
“If you let yourself get frustrated about something like this, it’s just going to affect you when you get back,” Sitton said. “Right now, you’ve got to look at positives. It could have been worse. I’m going to be back for the season.”
Tony Moll, who relieved Sitton at Denver, continued to play right guard in practice Monday. Daryn Colledge continued at left guard, and Jason Spitz played center with Scott Wells still nursing what is being described as a “trunk” injury that has affected both sides of his lower back.
Moll said he didn’t know for sure if
he would play right guard in Thursday’s final preseason game against Tennessee.
“They haven’t told us anything, really. I think I’m still there right now because that’s how we ended the game,” Moll said. “Just doing what I’m told and hoping for the best.”
Despite a rash of offensive line injuries in camp, Thompson said he wasn’t fretting.
“We’ve got a couple of guys nicked up there,” Thompson said. “We’re not overly concerned. We think we’re very strong, very deep in the offensive line. I’ve said this before, I think our offensive line is going to be very good, and I’m not overly concerned. But I wish everybody was healthy.”
NOTES: The Packers were thin at linebacker in Monday’s practice, with A.J. Hawk still sidelined by a chest injury and fellow linebacker Brandon Chillar sitting out with a lower back injury. ... CB Charles Woodson (knee bruise), DT Ryan Pickett (hamstring), S Atari Bigby (ankle), WR James Jones (knee sprain) and S Charlie Peprah (hamstring) also sat out Monday.
