
The Packers have lost rookie safety Morgan Burnett for the rest of the season, coach Mike McCarthy announced Monday. The loss leaves a thin Green Bay defense even thinner for at least a few weeks. Burnett assumed the starting role mere minutes after inking a rookie contract with the Packers, as Atari Bigby was busy holding out. Bigby got his deal and promptly injured his ankle during a conditioning test. Luckily, Burnett proved to be a quick learner, very athletic, with a nose for the ball. Now, Green Bay faces a tough roster decision. Atari Bigby's aforementioned injury landed him a spot on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP), which means he is not allowed to even step on the practice field until after the Miami contest in week 6. In the meantime, the Packers have a few options to replace Burnett: Charlie Peprah, Derrick Martin, and Jarrett Bush. Unfortunately, there are significant downsides to all three options. Peprah is the best option, as he has been a consistent sub at safety. However, he's missed the past 2 weeks with a quad injury, and will have to make it through a week of practice in order to earn the start. Derrick Martin has never been a name Packer fans have been wholly comfortable with, and even coach McCarthy sounded unsure of his abilities, saying only that he thought Martin did "OK" in sub work against Detroit. Jarrett Bush is a cornerback, simple as that. He's seen limited work at safety, and fans likely remember him more for his mistakes rather than his accomplishments. This week's practices should see a contest for the starting nod at safety. With all the uncertainty, one thing is for sure: Dom Capers is going to have cook up some real interesting scheming for Washington and Miami to respect the non-Woodson side of the field. An interesting note before I depart. Packers.com has reported that the open roster spot may allow the team to bring up safety Anthony Levine from the practice squad. Levine was signed before the start of this season as an undrafted free agent. A dark horse? Probably not. But I love a good underdog story.
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