Linebacker Nick Barnett is still on the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster, but why?

The Packers have some pressing needs in the secondary, especially safety. It's time to put Barnett on injured reserve and get someone healthy on the roster.

No matter who the Packers sign at this time of year, they're not going to help very much. But hopefully they won't be as hobbled as the current Packers' safeties are at this moment.

"It's assumed that Nick Collins, who suffered a bruised knee against the Saints, will be one of the starters against the Panthers, but who the other one will be is up in the air. It might come down to which player is the least injured," reports Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

All five safeties are on the injury report. Joining Collins among the wounded are Atari Bigby, Aaron Rouse and Jarrett Bush, all of whom are nursing ankle injuries. In addition, Charlie Peprah has a calf injury that kept him inactive against the Saints.

In addition, cornerback Pat Lee is going to be out a couple of weeks with a knee injury further adding to the concerns in the secondary.

It's possible that all of the safeties could play on Sunday against the Panthers, but none of them is likely to be at 100 percent.

The Packers currently have two defensive backs on their practice squad in Joe Porter and Kennard Cox, but it's possible they are not enamored with either of them seeing as they've had over two weeks to replace Barnett on the active roster.

The Packers didn't have to rush to sign another player given their depth, but there's no reason to continue dragging their feet either. Even if they don't sign a player in the secondary, it's not like Barnett is going to help the team out anymore this season. 

Photo credit: Benny Sieu for the Journal Sentinel