National Football League

Packers counting on backups for playoff push

Published Nov. 25, 2009 10:40 a.m. ET

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Aaron Kampman has been there for Green Bay Packers rookie Brad Jones all year, sharing the subtle tricks and techniques he has learned on the field and in the film room through seven-plus NFL seasons. The Packers can't count on Kampman anymore, but Jones still will. Jones credits Kampman for the improvement he has made since coming to Green Bay as a seventh-round pick out of Colorado. And while players sometimes fade into the background after sustaining season-ending injuries, Jones hopes that isn't the case with his mentor. "Aaron's so good, man," Jones said Tuesday. "He's really the description of a 'vet,' a veteran. He knows so much, he's helped me so much. Just watching me, giving me little technique corrections, everything. ... I really hope he stays around." Jones is one of several lesser-known Packers players who will have to take on more significant roles in the wake of Sunday's season-ending knee injuries to Kampman and cornerback Al Harris, two cornerstones of Green Bay's defense. With a Thanksgiving Day game looming in Detroit, the Packers barely have time to draw up Plan B - and certainly have no time to sulk. If backups such as Jones and cornerback Tramon Williams don't take up the slack, the Packers (6-4) might miss the playoffs. "You have to challenge the guys that are stepping in," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "They have a responsibility. If you're out there on the field, you've got a responsibility to the rest of the guys." The Packers got more unsettling injury news Tuesday when center Scott Wells was unable to practice because of a knee injury. If Wells can't play Thursday, the Packers will start Evan Dietrich-Smith, a rookie undrafted free agent out of Idaho State. But the biggest concerns are on defense, where Williams says he's ready to step in for Harris. Williams has impressed coaches since arriving as a practice squad player in 2006, rising up the depth chart to become a solid No. 3 cornerback and potential starter. When Harris sat out four games with a spleen injury last year, Williams had interceptions in three straight games. And Williams has played plenty this season, as the pass-happy nature of the NFL means the Packers usually have more than two cornerbacks on the field. "I don't feel that I have to step in and work some kind of miracle," Williams said. "I just feel that I can step in and just let the game come to me." It's the guys behind Williams who are cause for concern. Jarrett Bush and rookie Brandon Underwood could prove to be vulnerable in coverage, something Capers might have to consider in drawing up game plans. The Packers are at their best when they're sending blitzers from all over the field, and Capers hopes to keep it up. But if his defense starts giving up big plays, he might have to go conservative. "You've got a philosophy. You want to stay with that philosophy," Capers said. "Now I'd be foolish to say that (injury) doesn't influence a little bit ... But you've got to evaluate every week what do you think it's going to take to go out and win the game." The Packers added some depth Tuesday, signing former Denver cornerback Josh Bell - who said Tuesday he believes he would be playing a significant role for the Broncos right now if he hadn't hurt his knee in the preseason. Replacing Kampman at outside linebacker also is a concern for the Packers, but perhaps one not as grave as the No. 3 cornerback spot. Jones played well in the Packers' Nov. 15 victory over Dallas when Kampman sat out with a concussion. The Packers also have steady veteran Brady Poppinga. Jones insists the defense won't let the team down. "Those are two great players," Jones said. "It's not like you just have another Aaron Kampman or another Al Harris just sitting on the sidelines."

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