Harris, Kampman lost for season with knee injuries

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)—The Green Bay Packers feared the worst after watching two of their top defensive players get carted to the locker room Sunday, and things didn’t look any better the next morning. Cornerback Al Harris(notes) and linebacker Aaron Kampman(notes) will both have season-ending knee surgery.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that losing the two veterans will be a major challenge to the Packers (6-4), who are in the middle of the NFC wild card race after Sunday’s victory over San Francisco.

With a Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit three days away, McCarthy says coaches still are considering their options at each position.

“Not seeing ’74’ and ’31’ in the huddle, it’s going to be different,” McCarthy said. “It’s a challenge to our players, they’re going to have to step up and get ready in a short week for Detroit.”

Even in the wake of two devastating injuries, McCarthy said moving on is part of life in the NFL.

“You don’t want to see the individual go through it,” McCarthy said. “But as far as our football team, trust me. They’re here today, they’re getting treatment, they’ve worked out, they’re watching film. And we’ll be ready for Detroit.”

Harris and Kampman both were taken to the locker room after being hurt on separate plays in the second half. McCarthy would not confirm specific details of either injury, but both appeared to hurt their left knees.

Kampman and Harris have been two of the Packers’ most durable players.

When Kampman sat out the Packers’ Nov. 15 win over Dallas because of a concussion, it was the first game he missed because of an injury since 2003. Harris missed four games because of a ruptured spleen last year, the first serious injury of his Packers career.

McCarthy said he spoke to both players, and they’re doing as well as can be expected.

“They’re both professionals,” McCarthy said. “I think we have a lot of confidence they’ll both respond very well. They’re both in great shape, both take great care of their bodies.”

McCarthy said replacing Harris, a standout player known for his physical coverage style, with No. 3 cornerback Tramon Williams(notes) is the natural move. Williams is a good player, but the Packers still will need to come up with nickel and dime package options at a position where they aren’t particularly deep.

“We’re looking at all our options,” McCarthy said.

Green Bay has a little more depth at outside linebacker, where seventh-round rookie Brad Jones(notes) played well after Kampman sat out the Dallas game. Veteran Brady Poppinga(notes) also could return to a starting role.

“We’ve got some talented guys in this room,” cornerback Charles Woodson(notes) said Sunday. “It (doesn’t) matter at this point, they’ve got to play. So we look for those guys to be prepared come Thursday.”

The injury could be particularly costly to Kampman, whose contract is up at the end of the season.

Kampman has been one of the league’s elite pass rushers in recent years, but his productivity has dipped in this year’s transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

While Kampman has gradually become more comfortable with the idea of dropping into pass coverage, he has only 3.5 sacks this season—and now faces a lengthy injury rehabilitation.

335 Comments

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  1. JMac
    335. Posted by JMac Tue Nov 24 12:58am EST

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    Hey Jason you douchebag, remeber when Daunte and moss kicked your packers out of the playoffs in Green Bay? Well, IF and thats a big IF the pack even make it to the playoffs, its gonna be a pleasure watching Farve and the Vikes knock them out of the playoffs again. lol
  2. tmh
    334. Posted by tmh Tue Nov 24 12:49am EST

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    I am reminded of a saying I heard while living in MN: (Packers won 3 of 4, including the Halloween Freeman "he did what?" catch)

    The season never ends well in Minnesota.

    Perhaps we can find Randy Moss's water bottle?
  3. jason
    333. Posted by jason Tue Nov 24 12:46am EST

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    And the one that the Vikings fans should remember the most.

    Your teams becomes crediable when you beat a quality opponent. Running amok screaming your win and loss when most of your season has been spent playing the bottom of the standings isn't going to look good for you. Remember everybody looks good when they play the same exact teams. Its when you start beating more top notch clubs like Dallas, New England, Saints, and Colts that you start earning respect.
  4. jason
    332. Posted by jason Tue Nov 24 12:37am EST

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    I'm not the one stuck in the past. I'm glad the Packers moved on to Rodgers and some youth.

    Its the Favre fans that seem to have the problem of letting go. These are the fans I always hear about the what if. Stuff like if Brett was here things would be different crowd. These are the ones holding the grudges just because the #4 isn't behind center.

    Its the Packer fans job to bring some truth into the fray. Not just something ESPN forced down their throat or something they made up as truth.
  5. John Q Public
    331. Posted by John Q Public Tue Nov 24 12:26am EST

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    Jason - Everything you posted was old news. Live in the now. Try to be a good sport. Maybe next year your team will be relevant.
  6. jason
    330. Posted by jason Tue Nov 24 12:18am EST

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    Vikings fans just haven't had a winning season like this for so long. They simply don't know how to handle winning without coming accross as total jerks.

    To the Vikings fans. Here is a few nice rules to follow that might help you along to the path.

    The most important rule is that you don't brag about beating up bad football games. I know that a win is a win, but putting up 45 on a bad Seattle team does not make you a better team. A bad team is a bad team. It don't matter how many points you win by unless your playing vegas point spreads.

    Don't celebrate your super bowl win before the season is over. Remember Brett Favre has a history of dominating the regular season. Then falling to pieces when it comes playoff time. Winning a division crown doesn't equal a championship. Packer fans have seen this act time and time again to know this for fact.

    Don't go living in the past. We know Brett Favre won a Super Bowl, and three MVP awards. Now remind yourself that was well over a decade ago. Please remember to look at the calendar and see what year your currently in. Its 2009 and soon to be 2010. 1996 is hardly current event material at this point.
  7. Drawdy, D
    329. Posted by Drawdy, D Tue Nov 24 12:06am EST

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    I agree completely, rick, post 312
  8. Jrock
    328. Posted by Jrock Tue Nov 24 12:01am EST

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    Saints wont even make it to the SuperBowl.....
  9. John Q Public
    327. Posted by John Q Public Tue Nov 24 12:01am EST

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    Bikes - Try to live in the present. I know it's hard for you, but just try.
  10. David
    326. Posted by David Mon Nov 23 11:56pm EST

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    Hey All...Blaney is really that fookin retard JASON...

    Hey Blaney,go and fook yourself...

    Remember,JASON will be in the mens room at Ford Field,mouth open,impersonating a toilet

    JASON or BLANEY..your a frigging JAMF!
  11. Bikes
    325. Posted by Bikes Mon Nov 23 11:50pm EST

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    To post 313, you better not be a Vikes fan. If you are how sad of you to forget at least a "modern" day title is better than NONE!
  12. Cliff
    324. Posted by Cliff Mon Nov 23 11:50pm EST

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    Can anyone just talk about the Packers and what they have to do to stay in the wild card hunt? And Don't say win smart azzes, hahaha!
  13. John Q Public
    323. Posted by John Q Public Mon Nov 23 11:39pm EST

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    Packers... ...let's see. Woodson (from Oakland), Al Harris (from Philly), Donald Lee (from Miami), John Kuhn ( from Pittsburgh). I wonder if Oakland, Philly, Miami, and Pittsburgh fans can't get over these players signing with the packers? I bet they have moved on. I bet they live in the present.
  14. david d
    322. Posted by david d Mon Nov 23 11:33pm EST

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    The maturity on these post a comment always amazes me.
  15. John Q Public
    321. Posted by John Q Public Mon Nov 23 11:26pm EST

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    Blaney, you can't even respond to me without reverting right back to Vikings talk. It's obvious your really a Vikings fan. Oh, and by the way, get a dictionary.
  16. <i>alangenemarty</i>
    320. Posted by alangenemarty Mon Nov 23 11:22pm EST

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    packers killer you forgot about Sharper know your team bandwagon fan
  17. Josh S
    319. Posted by Josh S Mon Nov 23 11:18pm EST

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    packer killer, Um, actually the Vikings have gotten more players than just Favre and Longwell from the Packers. Sharper and WR Robert Ferguson both used to play for the Packers, and both were with the Vikings for a while.

    But I guess that's what happens in the NFL. Ya gotta move on.

    Go Packers!
  18. Blaney
    318. Posted by Blaney Mon Nov 23 11:14pm EST

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    Ann you are right they are bunch of kids and I am done talking to little boys. Is it time for bed little boys it school time.
  19. Blaney
    317. Posted by Blaney Mon Nov 23 11:13pm EST

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    315 nope wrong again I am here to defend my team from you Vikings fans that only beat us this year but the last 3-4 years we kick your sorry butt and we will be doing it again when all the luck of yours will end this year.
  20. Blaney
    316. Posted by Blaney Mon Nov 23 11:11pm EST

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    This topic about the Packers yet you stupid Vikings fans think you need to go to every topic and talk crap. You all will eat your words and I love to be there to rub it in punks and yes moron I am a Packers fan since 1979 not a Vikings fan since 2009 like most of you punks kids.
  21. John Q Public
    315. Posted by John Q Public Mon Nov 23 11:01pm EST

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    Hey blaney, I noticed all you seem to talk about are the Vikings. You must be a HUGE fane of Favres to dump the packers and jump on the VIKINGS bandwagon. I know if you were a real packer fan you would be posting about them.
  22. packer killer
    314. Posted by packer killer Mon Nov 23 11:00pm EST

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    come to think of it blaney never graduated high school because his sentences he tries to put together are nothing but fragments of his own imagination the end result illiteracy!!!
  23. John Q Public
    313. Posted by John Q Public Mon Nov 23 10:53pm EST

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    You so called packer fans seem to be pretty fixated on the Vikings. Not much to say about your own team. By the way, If the packers didn't 'steal' Reggie White in free agency, they wouldn't have a 'modern' title to their name!
  24. Rick
    312. Posted by Rick Mon Nov 23 10:53pm EST

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    I love Cake.
  25. packer killer
    311. Posted by packer killer Mon Nov 23 10:48pm EST

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    blaney, is that your moms car it sucks worse than you do!!!
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