Green Bay Packers: Options going forward after significant injuries on Monday

Kentrell Brice and Jake Ryan were carted off the field after injuries sustained during practice on Monday. Assuming Brice and Ryan may miss significant time, what are the Green Bay Packers’ options moving forward?

It was a dark and gloomy day in Green Bay, WI on Monday, and not just in terms of the weather. After dark clouds began engulfing the sky, it was as if the the injury gods were cued to set a curse on the Green Bay Packers.

Both strong safety Kentrell Brice and inside linebacker Jake Ryan sustained leg injuries that forced them to be carted off the field. Both players were extremely emotional, burying their heads into their jersey and sweat towel, almost to suggest their injuries may be significant.

Brice, who is entering his third season, had been running with the first-team during training camp and had gained considerable praise from Mike McCarthy multiple times during the offseason. Ryan, whose also entering his third season, was set to log decent playing time as a run-stuffing linebacker.

Assuming both players may miss significant time, who are the Packers’ options to replace them?

Of course, Josh Jones is likely the first calling card on a short list of candidates already on the roster. After Jones comes Jermaine Whitehead and Marwin Evans, two players who don’t exactly strike fear into offensive coordinators’ minds. Raven Greene, an undrafted rookie out of James Madison, could be a name to watch as well.

Inside linebacker becomes another concern, as Blake Martinez remains the only inside linebacker with considerable experience on the roster. Rookie Oren Burks is an obvious name to watch, with Ahmad Thomas getting a huge bump in chances to make the final 53-man roster.

As far as free agents go, plenty of options remain at safety. Eric Reid and Kenny Vaccaro highlight a list of names that also includes Mike Mitchell, Tyvon Branch, Steven Terrell and Nate Allen. Both Reid and Vaccaro would be decent fits as a hybrid-style safety, similarly to Josh Jones.

At linebacker the options are even thinner. Current free agents include NaVarro Bowman, who appears to be a shell of his former self, as well as Gerald Hodges, Brian Cushing and Korey Toomer. Bowman would seemingly be a lateral move as a run-stuffing linebacker, similarly to what Ryan would have provided.

Whichever route the Packers elect to take will obviously depend on the prognosis of Brice and Ryan’s injuries. If they do appear to be significant, general manager Brian Gutekunst will have a tough decision to make: to bring in more talent, or rely on what they’ve got.