Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Sam Barrington is reportedly expected to miss the rest of the 2015 season after suffering a foot injury against the Bears on Sunday, according to NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.
This is a big blow to the Packers defense as Barrington had 52 tackles and a sack last season. Barrington had come into the game with an ankle injury and was seen icing it on the bench by the second quarter. Barrington's injury does not seem to be a quick heal, especially if he has just reaggravated it and likely made it worse. Barrington was seen leaving the locker room on crutches and wearing a boot on Sunday, according to Michael Cohen of the Journal Sentinel. This year was supposed to Barrington's third year in the league, and head coach Mike McCarthy was likely hoping for big things out of him this season.
The Packers just came off a big win against NFC North Rival the Chicago Bears 31-23, but their schedule doesn't get any easier in the coming weeks. The Packers face the Seahawks next, and Marshawn Lynch will likely take advantage of any weaknesses the Packers defense gives up. The next week doesn't get any easy as they play Jamaal Charles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will likely come up with some scheme to help the linebacker core for the next couple of weeks, but players will have to step up if they want to have a solid defense. Behind Barrington is Nate Palmer, who had a good game in Barrington's absence with seven tackles, but with a weeks notice of the injury the Seahawks may find a way to exploit the holes with an inexperienced linebacker on the field.
Without Barrington, players like Clay Matthews, B.J. Raji, and Julius Peppers will have to step up to stop opponents' ground game. It will be a rematch of the NFC Championship game Sunday, and if the Packers want vengeance for last season they'll need to have their defense ready.
