Aug. 29, 2008

A thick cloud continued to hang over the Packers’ interior defensive line through three preseason games, with sources in Green Bay indicating that GM Ted Thompson could be looking seriously into a trade for some reinforcements. For starters, former first-round draft pick Justin Harrell, who was being counted on to make his first real impact this season, might not even play in 2008 after undergoing surgery on his back earlier this week. Meanwhile, Johnny Jolly could be facing a league suspension after getting slapped with a felony drug charge earlier this summer (a hearing that was initially scheduled for this week on his drug charge has been moved to Sept. 16, which figures to delay any suspension) and also has been bothered by a hip injury. If all that weren’t bad enough, DT Ryan Pickett, the line’s undisputed anchor, is just now starting to test a hamstring that sidelined him the first month of training camp and, according to team insiders, might have adversely affected his conditioning. We hear Thompson started putting out feelers for help after witnessing his D-line’s lackluster effort in the preseason game vs. Denver, as the unit’s gap discipline proved to be a particular eyesore. The Packers appear to have surpluses at wide receiver and the offensive line that could be appealing to potential suitors. But more likely than not, one or more of their nine 2009 draft picks would be the most likely bait should a deal actually materialize.