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Cullen Jenkins
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The injuries to QB Aaron Rodgers (throwing shoulder) and CB Al Harris (spleen) might have received more ink, but neither of those is nearly as costly as the season-ending torn right pectoral muscle suffered by starting DRE Cullen Jenkins in the Week Four loss in Tampa Bay.
“A devastating loss,” a team source told PFW. “He was playing unbelievable. He really didn’t look good this summer and in the preseason, but he was flat-out great in Weeks Three and Four.”
The way we hear it, it will take more than one player to replace Jenkins, who was excelling at both right end in the Packers’ base defense and left tackle in nickel situations.
The primary replacement for Jenkins at right end is promising but unproven fourth-year pro Mike Montgomery. “He’s a tough kid,” the source said. “He mixes it up and is very aware. He’s all right. I really can’t say anything bad about him.”
It’s also quite possible that athletic fourth-round rookie Jeremy Thompson, who performed well at the end of training camp, could see more action on the edge.
The team also replaced Jenkins on the roster with ex-Jaguar Kenny Pettway, who was a passenger in the SUV in which Jaguars OL Richard Collier was shot 14 times and paralyzed on Sept. 2. But Pettway is expected to primarily replace DL Jason Hunter, a key special-teams performer who we’re told could be out for a while with a hamstring injury.
Jenkins and Hunter were most often the tackles in the Packers’ nickel defense, and for the time being, the team has only three pure tackles in Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole.
“Montgomery will probably be tried some inside,” the source said, “and Hunter will be back there when he gets healthy enough.”
Much-needed reinforcements inside could be on the way soon, with 2007 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell, who is serving out his stint on the physically-unable-to-perform list, eligible to return following the sixth game of the season.
Harrell has had a hard time staying healthy since joining the Packers, but sources tell us he currently is in his best shape since joining the team and could be in a position to provide a boost at just the right time.
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