Seahawks-Packers: Injury Report Fantasy Team

Two teams considered contenders if not favourites to win their divisions. Both are facing almost certain elimination should they come up short in this game.

Why? Both teams have been ravaged by injuries. In fact, this game features an entire roster of injured players, some of which can play through them, some of which cannot. (Those out for the season on injured reserve are in italics, without their injuries as finding such information would have required searching news archives.)

Here is that list, beginning with Seahawks players and ending with Packers players in bold:

QB: Matt Hasselbeck, knee (listed as questionable, but reports are he will likely sit out); Seneca Wallace, calf (questionable); Aaron Rodgers, shoulder (probable)

RB: Maurice Morris, knee (probable); Kregg Lumpkin, hamstring (questionable); Ryan Grant, hamstring (will play)

FB: Korey Hall, knee (probable)

TE: Evan Moore

WR: Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Logan Payne, Ben Obomanu; Deion Branch, heel (questionable); Koren Robinson, knee (probable); Shaun Bodiford; James Jones, knee (questionable)

OT: William Robinson, Walter Jones, team decision (probable); Chad Clifton, hamstring (probable)

OG: Rob Sims, Chris Gray

C (both long-snappers): Tyler Schmidt, J.J. Jansen

DT: Chris Cooper; Justin Harrell; Ryan Pickett, knee (questionable)

DE: Cullen Jenkins; Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, illness (will play); Mike Montgomery, ankle (doubtful); Jason Hunter, hamstring (doubtful)

LB: Will Herring, Wesley Mallard; Leroy Hill, knee (probable); AJ Hawk, groin (probable)

S: Aaron Rouse, knee (probable); Nick Collins, back (will play); Atari Bigby, hamstring (doubtful)

CB: DeMichael Dizer; Kelly Jennings, ribs (probable); Al Harris, spleen (out); Charles Woodson, toe (probable); Pat Lee, back (questionable)

That's a formidable roster of 42 players that could actually win games in the NFL. Every position listed above has at least enough players for every offensive and defensive package teams run. The only positions missing are the kickers, and if you count how Jon Ryan has to feel personally hurt at being cut despite performing well for the Packers (he is now in Seattle), you could probably even take care of the kicking game.

Sure there are a lot of young players who took these hits in training camp and may not have made the team. However, there are plenty of Pro Bowl-caliber players, including two quarterbacks, two tackles, two defensive ends, two cornerbacks, and one safety; six of those nine players actually have made the Pro Bowl.

And you wonder why these two teams have just three wins between them five weeks into the season? Everyone has to struggle with injuries, but this is extreme.

The good news for both teams is that it will be the most decimated units matching up against each other. The Packers are listing 13 defensive players, including six in the backfield; the Seahawks are listing 14 offensive players, including six receivers.

I see this game as a near toss-up. The key in this game (other than to keep ambulances handy) will be which team can stop the other's rushing attack. The Seahawks may be the only team to struggle more there than the Packers, but they also have a slightly better running attack.

The Seahawks have the considerable advantage in a "walking wounded" match-up of coming off a bye, but look to be going with their third-string quarterback. The game is going to be played in Seattle, but if coach Holmgren's last year with the Seahawks is anything like his last in Green Bay, his heart might not be in it. Mike McCarthy proved last year he is a better coach than Holmgren has been for over ten years, and that should counter any homefield advantage.

I will break the tie with this: the Packers have played better opposition thus far. Green Bay "wins" the battle of whose injured list is biggest overall, 22-20. Just for fun, let's call that the final score.