NFL News Rumors: Packers, McNeill, 49ers, Saints

October 11, 2010

Things can’t get much worse for the Green Bay Packers. The team has been dealing with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball but the injuries they suffered this weekend are nearly the worst-case-scenario for the Packers. Aaron Rodgers left the Sunday’s game with a concussion, Jermichal Finley will undergo surgery on his knee and Clay Mathews has a hamstring strain. Head coach Mike McCarthy will have to wait to see if Rodgers and Mathews will be available for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins but the Packers may end up having to punt this weekends game because of injuries.
Adam Schefter is reporting that the San Diego Chargers have signed LT Marcus McNeill to a five-year contract extension. The Chargers have activated McNeill for Sunday’s game which will be his first action of the 2010 season. Still no news to report regarding a Vincent Jackson trade or extension.
It seems like Adam Schefter is the only one that is allowed to report news today but he also reported that Eagles DT Brodrick Bunkley will be out indefinitely with torn ligament in his elbow.
The Carolina Panthers have claimed WR Devin Thomas off of waivers today after the Redskins chose to release him due to a lack of interest in trading for him. Thomas will take the place of Dwayne Jarrett who was cut by the team early last week.
After losing their first five games of the season, the San Francisco 49ers have made the decision to stick with Alex Smith as their quarterback. Smith had a few turnovers that may have cost them the game but also showed some resilience by leading the team back into contention before throwing a game ending interception. 49ers owner Jed York tweeted that “we’re going to win the division” today despite the teams slow start. York also made it clear that Mike Singletary is not in danger of losing his job.
The New Orleans Saints are dealing with more kicker problems after John Carney missed a short field goal during Sunday’s loss to Arizona. The team replaced Garrett Hartley because of a nearly identical miss earlier in the season. Head coach Sean Payton hinted that there could be a competition to determine who will be the teams kicker for their upcoming game, per James Varney ofthe New Orleans Times-Picayune.