The Future For Derek Sherrod

I wanted to write an in-depth post about the Green Bay Packers' offensive line, which I see as the key to improving the running game and keeping QB Aaron Rodgers' in good health, but I haven't gotten to it just yet. In the meantime, Wes Hodkiewicz at the Press-Gazette was kind enough to inquire about former first round pick Derek Sherrod:

“I expect him to be back and competing for a spot,” [offensive line coach James] Campen said. “He was just on the cusp of doing some very good things when he got hurt. It was there and unfortunately we had the injury in Kansas City and it’s taken a little bit longer than we had thought to get ready, but we expect him to be back and ready to go.”

I'm not sure if he was really on the cusp of very good things, but his leg injury was severe and it should be something he can return from. It reminds me a little bit of the major hip injury former LT Chad Clifton suffered in his third (2002) season, however, Clifton returned to start all 16 games the following year.

At this point, with LT Marshall Newhouse and RT Bryan Bulaga apparently settled into their current positions for the 2013 season, Sherrod should be focused on getting healthy and settling into a backup role. I liked rookie RT Don Barclay as a backup player but Sherrod should be able to move ahead of him on the depth chart. The Packers will have to make a decision on extending Newhouse and/or Bulaga in a couple years and whether Sherrod is a legitimate Plan B to extending their contracts is something they'll have to evaluate next season.