Jerel Worthy and Danny Watkins ruled out

The Green Bay Packers ruled out rookie defensive end Jerel Worthy for tomorrow’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, as the Michigan State product suffered a concussion in last week’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Already receiving the brunt of the workload for the Packers on the defensive line, Worthy has certainly proven that he was more than worthy of the 51st pick in the draft. In fact, he was a huge steal for the Packers.

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Two other key defensive linemen are listed on the injury report, as both B.J. Raji and Mike Neal are listed probable on the injury report. They will almost certainly play now that Worthy has been ruled out. Although his play has been suspect at times, the rookie has been a quality contributor for the Packers and has quite a bit of promise. He’s recorded two sacks this season.

Second-year right guard Danny Watkins has had a terrible season in pass protection, and he could be fully usurped by 6’8″ rookie Dennis Kelly at right guard. Watkins will now be out for two weeks with an ankle injury, and Kelly could entrench himself as the starting RG for the Eagles. He doesn’t have to play all that well in order to do so, and Watkins’s struggles with transitioning to the NFL have certainly been discouraging for Philadelphia.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Robert Housler has finally received a great role in the offense and could be gradually headed to the breakout that many people were projecting before the season started. Both Housler and fellow Cards TE Todd Heap are on the injury report, as Housler has just been listed probable with a “sore hip”, per Darren Urban. Heap is questionable with a knee injury, so the money is on Housler playing against Green Bay.

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