Packers Could Be Without Bryan Bulaga For 6 Weeks

The Green Bay Packers made it through week one despite a big injury on their offense. Now they’ll have to make it through another six weeks with another. Per reports, offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga sustained a knee injury during practice this week and will miss up to six weeks after undergoing surgery. Bulaga was initially thought to have merely sprained his MCL, but a closer look showed damage to his meniscus.

Green Bay opted to clean up the knee now, rather than to wait to see if things improved organically. Bulaga will sit out at least the next six games, but should be able to make it back for the stretch run later in the year.

Week 2 Impact

One of the league’s best offensive lines takes a serious hit going into a huge week two showdown with the Seattle Seahawks. Even at home, quarterback Aaron Rodgers now faces the possibility of getting more pressure than he’s accustomed to with his top pass blocker out of commission. That may not necessarily give Seattle the edge they need to land the upset, but an already evenly matched game just got a lot closer. Don Barclay looks to be the immediate replacement for Bryan Bulaga in Green Bay’s starting lineup, and it will be interesting to see how he holds up against Seattle’s nasty front seven.

Six Week Trial

Barclay will get a ton of exposure starting in week two, and depending on how he fares in quite possibly the stiffest of all tests, he could be the main man at offensive tackle for the next two months. Overall, Green Bay is deep and talented enough to get through even the biggest of injuries, but another body down on the o-line is never a good thing.

Bad Omen?

The Packers haven’t had much luck when it comes to injuries so far this year and it looks like the hits just keep coming. First the Packers lost star wide receiver Jordy Nelson to an ACL tear, while Randall Cobb and Micah Hyde both got banged up before the season opener. Inside linebacker Sam Barrington was the latest to go on the shelf, as the third-year linebacker was being counted on for meaningful snaps at the inside position of Green Bay’s defense, but is already on injured reserve with a foot issue.

Bulaga won’t miss the entire year and while he’s a big loss for now, it’s not a death blow. Of course, another big injury or two, and Green Bay could go from Super Bowl favorites to playoff duds. Bettors beware.