Report: Packers RT Bryan Bulaga Suffers Torn ACL

If things can go from "bad" to "worse" in Green Bay after Monday night's ghastly showing against the Detroit Lions, they could come in the form of a potentially significant injury.

That may have been what right tackle Bryan Bulaga suffered in the fourth quarter. 

In the process of protecting Packers quarterback Brett Hundley, who completed a 46-yard pass to receiver Randall Cobb on the play, Bulaga seemed to have awkwardly planted his right foot and caused an injury to his knee on the same leg.

It was then that Bulaga would be helped off the field and carted to the locker room, ending the night for the eight-year veteran.

"I haven't talked to Dr. McKenzie yet, but they seem very concerned about it," coach Mike McCarthy said after the loss. The Packers declared Bulaga "out" shortly following his injury, which is a rarity. Typically, they'll just say the injured player is "questionable" to return, however, the only other time this season the Packers declared a player out was when quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered his broken collarbone in week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings.

This spells more doom and gloom for a Packers offensive line that has been bruised and battered all season. Up until Monday night, the original five starters had only played together for 15 snaps through seven games.

Left tackle David Bakhtiari, who missed four of those games, called Bulaga's injury "unfortunate," according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "No one plans for injuries. Feel terrible for what happened."

Offensive guard Justin McCray stepped in for Bulaga at right tackle before he, too, suffered an injury (ankle) on the Packers' final drive of the night.

Bulaga missed all of the 2013 season with a torn ACL in his left knee, however, the Packers fear a similar happening with his opposite knee is in the works.

McCarthy will potentially have more information to reveal during his presser on Tuesday, which will be at 3:30 p.m. CT.

Updated: According to NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, Bulaga did indeed suffer a torn ACL in his right knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. 

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (26)

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:03 am

According to Twitter Bulaga tore his ACL.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/927941960660389889

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:36 am

RC, I wanted to read what you thought of the Matt Harmon article. I am out of time for today, and this site is too difficult to tell if you saw it already. Here is the link again:'

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000873618/article/packers-offense-u...

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2017 at 01:23 pm

Thats interesting. I hadn't seen it.

Watching the game via TV its hard to tell all the routes that WR's run especially when your not focusing on certain players.

I was thinking about this today. I'd love to have a break down of all the passing plays, especially in the first half. I don't remember the numbers but most were within 5 yards of the LOS. Late in the 4th Quarter he opened it up a bit more and seemed to target more players downfield.

What I would like to know though is the short passing game designed to be short passes or is Hundley checking down to shorter passes? It would be nice to know where Hundley's first option was at, and where he got in progressions.
Hundley had a couple of really good looking throws later in the game that honestly could spark him a bit. The one to Cobb and the other to Kendricks. He missed some open WR's early in the game, but seemed to be better later.

The first drive of the game I was impressed with the different looks that McCarthy came out with. They drove down the field and the drive halted. Then after that it was hard to tell what they were doing.

I thought the offense looked at its best when Hundley was put in the shotgun, and they were in the hurry up. He seemed to get more comfortable. Montgomery also. looked good.

It will be interesting to see how the offense functions moving forward. If Hundley settles in more each game.

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dobber's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:04 am

Well, it creates a spot for Jason Spriggs to play when he comes off IR. Gotta find out if he's got anything or if he's really what he looked like in camp...

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HankScorpio's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:20 am

I think Spriggs will be fine when he's playing with the 1s.

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Mojo's picture

November 07, 2017 at 03:33 pm

In the gotta take what you can out of this season department, at least the Bulaga injury will give the Pack the opportunity to see if Spriggs has anything. And not just for a few snaps, but for potentially half a season.

And added bonus; we're not exposing ARod to any danger when playing Spriggs (sorry BH).

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Finwiz's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:10 am

Bulaga is done. He needs to take an injury settlement and just retire.
They had him so off balance last night, it's a wonder he didn't get hurt sooner.
And to think Detroit was playing their 4th tier left tackle, if I heard that right, (might of been 3rd) and never laid a hand on Stafford to exploit that mismatch.

Matthews is over. He takes a pay cut, or he's gone too.

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HankScorpio's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:37 am

There will not be an injury settlement with Bulaga. That is a tool for a player with a short-term injury to be removed from IR to sign someplace else. A torn ACL is season ending. He'll finish the year on IR and collect the salary his contract stipulates.

He's got 2 more years after that. I do think it is possible the Packers will cut him this offseason and owe him nothing more for 2018 and beyond. At the very least, I think Bulaga is on the PUP to start 2018. So how Sprigss plays in replacing Bulaga will be a factor in how it plays out.

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Bearmeat's picture

November 07, 2017 at 01:11 pm

That's really the only question at this point. If Spriggs doesn't ball out, (I know... ugh...) add a starting RT to the pile of needs for this team. Bulaga is done.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

November 08, 2017 at 03:31 am

Right. There will be no injury settlement. GB probably cuts Bulaga if they think he can't play in 2018 for most of the season. GB has to take a $3.2M dead money hit on the cap in 2018, and gains $5.1M in cap savings. Of course, we can't sign a good starting RT for $5.1M. Maybe one that is more available, or perhaps there is an internal replacement like Murphy or Spriggs.

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rdent's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:13 am

I beleive he has never made it through a season since drafted in the 1st round. I wish Brian the best but this is another example of Packer mgmt hanging on to a player longer than they should have. Lets hope they can find a viable replacement for the future.

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dobber's picture

November 07, 2017 at 01:52 pm

Appeared in every game in 2010 and 2016.

http://www.nfl.com/player/bryanbulaga/496988/profile

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zoellner25's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:38 am

Here's looking forward to a top 10 draft pick

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Donster's picture

November 07, 2017 at 11:43 am

Yes, and if TT is still around, he will draft a long snapper.

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dobber's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:44 pm

That way you get the best one...

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Point-Packer's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:02 pm

Sign Belaga and let TJ Lane walk. Who by the way absolutely dominated last night.

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Bearmeat's picture

November 07, 2017 at 01:12 pm

And is also 30 with a history of back problems. For 9 mil AAV for 3 years? No thanks. I'd rather have had Evans (who's been just fine btw) for 1 year and search for his replacement in the draft. OG is not a premium position.

TT has plenty of faults. Splitting with 2 older, expensive, and injury prone OGs is not one of them.

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GBPDAN1's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:13 pm

And the season from hell continues.....

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marpag1's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:38 pm

Let's go, Badgers!

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RCPackerFan's picture

November 07, 2017 at 03:00 pm

UW Basketball starts this week. Something to look forward to.

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Packer_Fan's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:41 pm

Well OK, this season is toast. Talent is not there beyond Rodgers, specifically on the defense. I think that MM and Capers have been there too long. They are in a coaching funk. ESPN had a camera on Bulaga when he got hurt. The rusher had Bulaga off balance and he had to dig in to stop the rusher. That is where he hurt his knee. He probably has done that a hundred times before without injury. Bulaga is just worn out.

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Packer_Fan's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:42 pm

Well OK, this season is toast. Talent is not there beyond Rodgers, specifically on the defense. I think that MM and Capers have been there too long. They are in a coaching funk. ESPN had a camera on Bulaga when he got hurt. The rusher had Bulaga off balance and he had to dig in to stop the rusher. That is where he hurt his knee. He probably has done that a hundred times before without injury. Bulaga is just worn out.

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al bundy's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:46 pm

We all wish him well but lets be honest here. He has been in and out the lineup all season. He has been a train wreck injury wise his whole career.
A heck of a player when healthy but when is that?

The pack needs to think of him as a back up in the future not a starter and reliable guy you can count on.

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billybobton's picture

November 07, 2017 at 12:51 pm

literally it could not matter less
without bulaga and with AROD we were 4-1

bulaga would not have mattered in any of those game

without AROD we are a humiliated 0-3 lucky to score
bulaga did not matter and will not matter
he was always over rated and he cost us

a real WR and a real TE dimwitted teddie passed on
dez and gronk

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EdsLaces's picture

November 07, 2017 at 01:28 pm

Oh noooooo what are we gonna do now !!!

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Tundraboy's picture

November 07, 2017 at 04:42 pm

I think there is nothing in his knees that hasn't been torn. Thanks Brian, but time to retire, so you can still walk later in life. Best wishes.

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