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Pickett status iffy for Eagles' game
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 25, 2006
Green Bay - Not a lot of the free agent pickups Green Bay Packers general manager
Ted Thompson has made have had a big impact, but one who has is nose tackle
Ryan Pickett.
Before spraining his right ankle in the 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions Sunday, Pickett was playing the most consistent football of perhaps anyone on defense. He was injured in the second quarter but returned to play in the second half, albeit at less than full strength.
On Monday, his ankle was very swollen and his status for the Philadelphia game next Monday night is up in the air.
"It's only three games into the season, but he's off to a solid start," defensive tackles coach
Robert Nunn said. "We just have to stay healthy and get this little injury taken care of and be ready to move forward this week. He has quite a bit of swelling today, but I think he'll be ready to roll."
The Packers have paired Pickett with all of the other defensive tackles at some point during training camp and the regular season and they can do it because they know what they're going to get from him every game. The Lions had some success running the football in the first half, but 27 of running back
Kevin Jones' 70 first-half yards came after Pickett left the game.
Though he was given more freedom in St. Louis to rush upfield and make plays in the backfield, the 6-2, 322-pound Pickett has been used as an anchor in the middle. His job is to draw double teams and help keep the offensive linemen off the linebackers.
Where he often shows up is on hustle plays, moving down the line of scrimmage or chasing running backs and receivers to the sideline. Were he unable to play against the Eagles, it would be a major blow to the defense because the Packers must contain running back
Brian Westbrook.
"He's come in with a terrific attitude and he's got good work ethic," Nunn said. "He's done a good job for us doing exactly what we want him to do. He's off to a good start."
The only other injury the Packers suffered was to defensive tackle
Kenderick Allen's foot.
Three's company: Offensive guard
Daryn Colledge played better against the Lions and has moved into a position where the coaches will have to think about whether he's one of the two best guards.
Colledge got his chance to play after fellow rookie
Jason Spitz injured his thigh. Spitz has missed two straight games and still might not be available this week. However, if he is, the coaches will have to decide whether Colledge goes back to the bench or keeps his job.
An option would be to move Spitz to right guard in place of another rookie,
Tony Moll, who has had his ups and downs as a starter.
"He's improving," offensive coordinator
Jeff Jagodzinski said of Colledge. "With a young player that's what you want. If he gets better at one thing then at the end of the season he's gotten better. He improved this week to last week. He's getting better and better."
Asked whether he had solidified a spot, Jagodzinski said, "We'll see. We'll play the best of the three."