He’s been there every Sunday since September 9, 2007. He’s been there for the Monday, Thursday and every other regular season and playoff games too. The run is up to 214 straight and the Green Bay Packers are crossing their fingers, or their legs, the count gets to 215 Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
In last week’s victory in Houston, veteran kicker Mason Crosby felt something tug behind his leg. A calf muscle injury, compounded by an aching back has kept the 14 year veteran on the sidelines at practice this week and it’s left the team scrambling for contingency plans. Punter J.K. Scott can certainly handle the kickoff duties and possibly field goals. Throughout the course of this Covid-Crazy season, Brian Gutekunst’s personnel department has brought kickers in for tryouts just in case. Remember, Crosby was among the original five members in the Reserve/Covid list club when training camp began. The team hasn’t had a coronavirus incident since. But to protect themselves, a ready list was compiled that included Giorgi0 Tavecchio, who battled Crosby in camp after his slump year of 2012. Part of the Covid protocols say tryout players have to test negative over the course of five days before they’re allowed to enter the building, much less find a spot on the regular or practice squad roster
The most recent kicker worked out was rookie Nick Vogel from UAB who was awfully good last year in college, hitting 19 of 23 field goals and all 37 extra points. Vogel’s workout was last Saturday and if by some chance, Crosby can’t make it to game time, he’ll likely get signed and be given a helmet.
Special Teams Coordinator Shawn Mennenga admits he doesn’t sleep much in-season anyway and winks have been harder to come by this week because of Crosby’s injuries. Mennenga admitted today he hasn’t even spoken to Vogel yet. He’s really hoping he doesn’t have to.
Crosby’s consecutive games streak by the way, is the second longest in franchise history behind only the ironman gunslinger himself, Brett Favre at 255 games.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur said today Kevin King had a setback recovering from his quad injury and that may keep him out of action another week. Aaron Jones joined King on the did not practice list Thursday as the Packers appear to be extra careful with his calf injury. He might miss a second straight game in the hopes of being ready for the San Francisco 49ers and the short week, Thursday night contest on November 5.
The rest of the medical news held steady. 19 names in all on the Thursday injury report but aside from Crosby, King and Jones, only veteran Marcedes Lewis didn’t participate and he got the old man day of rest treatment.
No one on that list should even consider complaining about a tight hamstring, sore shoulder or ankle sprain ever again.
All they have to do is talk to Billy Winn.
Billy Winn holds his first Packer Zoom session.
Winn is a 31 year old defensive lineman the Packers signed to their practice squad on September 16. Each team could sign up to two unlimited service veterans on the squad this year only because of the pandemic, otherwise, he might still be waiting for the phone to ring.
A sixth round draft choice out of Boise State by the Cleveland Browns in 2012, Winn’s career started just fine. He had 10 starts his rookie year and was a rotational player on Cleveland’s defensive line for his first four seasons which included the two years Packer defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was his head coach in 2014 and ’15. But in 2016, back issues developed. He made it to the regular season finale but that would be his last NFL game until the Packers gave him a call up to the active roster last month.
A four year wait.
And it was a painfully tragic four years as Winn told reporters today.
Crushing setbacks from arduous rehabilitation every year only to go down again in camp or the pre-season and never getting into a real game. How did he get through it all? Billy said it was his wife Brooke who knows a little something about living with adversity.
Just as Billy was making plans to find another line of work, the phone rang and it was the Packers. He jumped at the chance and in a matter of a couple of weeks, was jumping around like a little kid, for he made it back to the NFL at last.
Mike Pettine was asked about his old defensive tackle today and said it’s an amazing tale of persevearance.
Billy Winn is a guy you can really root for.
