The Green Bay Packers are coming off their bye week and will face the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday. They'll go into that game with a receiver shortage. Robert Ferguson is already sidelined with a foot injury and now Koren Robinson has been suspended for a full season, just hours after he pleaded not guilty to drunken driving and fleeing police in Minnesota last August. Robinson had appealed the suspension originally. That appeal was denied on Monday.
The Packers now must look elsewhere for receiver help, but the best option, at least in the short term appears to be activating a player from the practice squad. The best candidate at this point is Chris Francies who could be called up as early as today. Ruvell Martin would move into the 3rd spot.
The Packers signed Robinson back in early September, knowing full well that this day was coming. They elected to give reps to Robinson instead for working with younger receivers who would be around for a full season. The only two wide receivers on the roster with any experience are starters Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. It's not a real comforting situation.
When asked about the lack of experience, Mike McCarthy said yesterday that the Packers will just have to move on, that they planned for this. McCarthy talked about the extra tight end on the roster and the dual fullbacks. I'm not buying it. If the Packers are banking on tight ends and fullbacks to take the place of wide receivers in the Packers offense, they're in trouble. The teams fascination with a player (Robinson) that was facing a 1-year ban is worth the risk if you're deep at the wide receiver position. The Packers don't have an over-abundance of talent or depth there, which could mean trouble.
We'll see just exactly what kind of plan McCarthy has for dealing with this, but don't be surprised if the Packers offense takes a step backwards.