Packers put Spitz on injured reserve; sign WR Ealy
Nov. 7, 2009 5:45 p.m.
Tampa, Fla. --
The Green Bay Packers ended center Jason Spitz's season Saturday,
putting him on injured reserve and filling the spot with practice squad
wide receiver Biren Ealy, according to a source with access to the
NFL's personnel wire.
Spitz has been battling a back problem for the past three weeks and
as recently as this week coach Mike McCarthy said that the club had a
pretty good handle on the injury, but that Spitz was not making any
progress and that team physician Pat McKenzie was concerned. He said
Spitz was having muscle spasms that were preventing him from playing.
The Packers have not announced the move yet. Calls to Spitz's agent were not immediately returned.
Spitz received a second opinion recently and McCarthy said it
confirmed the diagnosis that team McKenzie had come to. McCarthy would
not say if the injury is disk-related.
The injury ends what looked to be a promising year for Spitz, whose
contract expires after this season. He won the starting center job over
incumbent Scott Wells, but was quickly forced to play left guard when
left tackle Chad Clifton got hurt in Week 2 and left guard Daryn
Colledge had to slide over to left tackle.
Spitz first missed practice on Oct. 15. He has not practiced or played since then.
It's not clear if the Packers are in need of another receiver on
Sunday. Donald Driver suffered a stinger last week against Minnesota
and missed two days of practice. He did practice on Friday and was
expected to play Sunday.
However, it's possible the injury could have flared up and the
Packers are worried he might not be able to play. More than likely,
they just want Ealy to fill the fourth receiver spot with Jordy Nelson
and Brett Swain both out with knee injuries and recently signed Jake
Allen questionable with a thigh injury.
The 6-2, 212-pound Ealy was signed last week when the Packers
elevated Allen from the practice squad to the active roster. Allen
served as the No. 4 receiver last week against Minnesota.
Ealy, 25, played in five games with the Tennessee Titans in 2007,
including a playoff loss to the San Diego Chargers. He caught two
passes for 17 yards in that game. He had one catch for 6 yards in the
regular season.
UPDATE: The Packers have now announced the move. In the press
release, general manager Ted Thompson did not give a reason for putting
Spitz on injured reserve.