As the Green Bay Packers start training camp Saturday, they will be missing just two players. First-round pick BJ Raji is still unsigned, but as head coach Mike McCarthy pointed out Friday afternoon, "there's a long time" yet before he officially misses a practice.The other missing player Saturday will be linebacker Nick Barnett. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in November, Barnett's recovery has not progressed enough for him to practice yet. McCarthy announced Friday that Barnett is going to start camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Packers fans shouldn't be horribly alarmed at this news. McCarthy noted that Barnett's recovery is on schedule, but he's just not ready for a full practice. Barnett failed his physical Friday, making him the only player on the team to do so.
"Nick's been working exclusively with the trainers," McCarthy said. "It's time for Nick and (linebackers coach) Winston Moss to get into the football drills. He has to take that next step."
Because it's just training camp, Barnett is eligible to be moved to the Packers' active roster at any time. At some point, that will happen, but the Packers will make sure he's ready for full contact before it does.
Barnett is a key player in the Packers' new defense, and there is no reason, at this point, to think he won't be in uniform for Green Bay's regular season opener September 13 against Chicago.
