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The Green Bay Packers’ safety is expected to miss his fifth straight game Sunday against Indianapolis after the hamstring he injured back on Sept. 14 at Detroit didn’t allow him to make it through all of Thursday’s practice and sidelined him Friday.
“It looks like he won’t be back until after the bye week,” said Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who listed Bigby as doubtful on the official Friday injury report.
With Bigby out, Aaron Rouse is expected to start in his place.
Injury update
Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (triceps, questionable) and center Scott Wells (shoulder, questionable) are expected to play against the Colts, but they’ll both be wearing protective harnesses to restrict their movement. Each of them practiced on a limited basis Friday.
“I look at Wells and Pickett about the same,” McCarthy said. “I anticipate they’ll both go, but they just had some adjustments to their equipment, just to make sure that no further damage could be done to their injury.”
Pickett, who is also battling knee tendinitis, said he wouldn’t even consider sitting out with the bye week up next.
“Absolutely not. Big game like this? I can’t see myself sitting out,” Pickett said. “My knee’s still banged up, I’m pretty beat up, but Sunday I’ll get through it, and I’ll be pretty good.”
Wells, who missed three games earlier this season with a mysterious lower back injury, has the same mindset.
“The good thing is we cut it off before it became worse. And I feel great. Awesome. Fantastic. You can quote me on that,” Wells said. “I told them they’re going to have to carry me off the field in order for me not to play. I’ve missed too many games already.”
Linebacker A.J. Hawk (groin, probable) made it through practice and will start, although Brandon Chillar could spell him in the nickel defense. Wide receiver James Jones (knee, doubtful) and defensive ends Jason Hunter (hamstring, doubtful) and Mike Montgomery (ankle, doubtful) will not play.
Harrell waits
McCarthy and the coaching and medical staffs had not decided Friday afternoon whether to activate defensive tackle Justin Harrell from the physically unable to perform list, although Harrell could be activated Saturday. If he is, the Packers will have to make a corresponding personnel move to make room for him on the 53-man roster.
McCarthy said it would “definitely” be difficult to cut someone to make room for Harrell. “The only time it works out for you conveniently is, unfortunately, when someone is put on IR,” McCarthy said.
While the injuries to Hunter and Montgomery don’t seem severe enough to warrant placing one on injured reserve, neither player has shown significant improvement this week. McCarthy said the team thought Hunter, who’ll miss his third straight game, would have a chance to play this week “but his testing didn’t go very well.”
“It (will be) a tough decision to make, if we do move Justin up,” McCarthy said. “If we don’t, then we’ll benefit from the bye week.”
Said Harrell: “I think every day we’re taking a step forward. I’ve got to attack it like I’m playing. I’ve been trying to stay focused and make sure I’ve got the game plan down. On Sunday if they call me to play, I’ll be ready to go out there and play. But, if not, I’ll get myself ready for next week.”
