Kumerow’s injury doesn’t appear serious
GREEN BAY - Jake Kumerow’s injury is worse than was first thought, but there are signs it is not serious enough to keep the Green Bay Packers wide receiver sidelined for long.
A source said Kumerow suffered an SC joint sprain and was waiting for test results to see the degree of the injury.
Coach Mike McCarthy said he would know more Monday after Kumerow returns from a day off. However, it’s expected he’ll begin rehab on the area right away and so McCarthy should know Kumerow’s status sooner than that.
Kumerow said he suffered a stinger
when he did a somersault into the end zone at the end of his 82-yard reception from quarterback DeShone Kizer against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.
An SC injury usually occurs when taking a hit to the chest, putting stress on the area where the clavicle and chest meet. Kumerow’s dive ended with him somersaulting so that his back hit the ground first and he was able to roll back onto his feet.
The injury he suffered is not as common as an AC sprain, which occurs at the end of the shoulder joint, usually from a direct hit on the shoulder or the force absorbed by an outstretched arm during a fall.
Kumerow caught the ball at the 29yard line, spun around and had a safety to beat 20 yards down the field. He juked the safety and then raced the rest of the way untouched for the touchdown. He decided to dive at the last second. “I saw that he (the safety) was getting close, and obviously I ran a long way and I was tired,” Kumerow said. “I was running, and running and running and then when I got to the end zone I was like, ‘Arrghh … I’m diving in.’ ”
Kumerow has been the surprise of camp. After spending two-plus years on practice squads, he finally has a legitimate chance at winning a roster spot.
Kumerow has six catches for a teamleading 190 yards and two touchdowns. He has made a strong case to be the No. 4 receiver, and if he misses a week or so it might not affect his chances.
It’s unclear if it could put his availability for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener in question.
McCarthy gave no update on running back Jamaal Williams (ankle) and guard Justin McCray (calf), both of whom were hurt Thursday night.
Full support
McCarthy is standing behind backup tackles Kyle Murphy and Jason Spriggs, both of whom had some rough moments against the Steelers.
Murphy has been playing left tackle most of camp and Spriggs right with David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga both missing time. Murphy started for Bulaga at right tackle against the Steelers, played two series and then moved to left tackle to replace Bakhtiari.
Murphy fared better with the No. 1 offensive line than he did later when he allowed linebacker Bud Dupree to sack Kizer. He moved back to right tackle in the third quarter and allowed a pressure on quarterback Tim Boyle.
Spriggs replaced Murphy at right tackle in the first half but moved to left tackle in the second half.
“I think in fairness to those two guys and really the group, I mean the goal is always to get the first five to play a bunch together,” McCarthy said Friday. “Well, we’re not going to achieve that obviously this year, and the guys that are affected by that more than any are Murphy, Spriggs and even Lucas Patrick and even Byron (Bell) coming in here new.
“These guys are playing a lot of different positions. The ability to go to the left side with the footwork and go back to the right, that’s all part of it.”
A different view
Despite abysmal numbers, McCarthy said he was pleased with the running game.
He was referring more to the blocking than the production of his four backs (24 carries for 56 yards).
“Obviously, the games are very important, but I feel very good about where we are running the football,” McCarthy said. “So we’ve had excellent work throughout the week.
“(I) clearly understand what the numbers said last week and again this week. The things we didn’t do right last night are correctable. So, there’s a lot of good things to build off of.”
Staying ‘in tune’
Enter the mind of Tramon Williams. It’s the first play of the Packers’ exhibition Thursday. His eyes dart to the Steelers’ backfield.
He sees a rookie quarterback behind center. No running back.
A thought develops.
“Most times,” Williams said, “most teams run quick game out of empty looks. If you run a lot of blitzes, they know they’ve got to get the ball out quick.”
Williams knows the Steelers don’t have enough pass protection to throw downfield. He also figures Steelers coach Mike Tomlin would like to start his rookie’s night with an easy throw. Before the snap, Williams is on his toes. He’s ready to jump a shallow route.
He sees Steelers receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey release off the line of scrimmage, then stop and turn after four steps. Williams starts running to intersect the passing lane almost before Mason Rudolph releases the football. The rest was easy.
Williams caught Rudolph’s pass on the first snap of the Packers’ rout and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. It was Williams’ first snap since returning to the Packers last spring, and he showed everyone why they dished out $10 million over two years for a 35-yearold cornerback.
“For a guy who couldn’t play,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, “pretty good.”
It’s been a while since the Packers had a cornerback with the savvy to recognize an empty backfield on the game’s first play, and see six points going the other way. Williams is trying to raise the level through the entire cornerback group, and not just physically.
Playing smarter remains a work in progress.
“I’m trying to get guys consistent,” he said. “Trying to make sure guys are in tune with the defense, everybody know what they’re supposed to be doing, and that’s what happened on a couple of those drives when those guys got to moving the ball. A couple mishaps, couple miscommunications, and guys let a couple guys run free.
“Those things happen. You want to get them cleaned up in preseason. Hopefully we can get those things cleaned up.”
Working on Sunday
McCarthy said the team will work in private Sunday on the Chicago Bears, their opponent in the season opener.
They will return for public practices Monday and Tuesday. They play the Raiders on Friday in Oakland.