Tramon Williams Injury: Severity of DB's Arm Injury Won't Slow Packers Down

After being bit by the injury bug early and often last season, the Green Bay Packers are undoubtedly wary of the arm injury starting cornerback Tramon Williams suffered late in the team's win against the New Orleans Saints last night.

Regardless, the Packers showed last season that injuries aren't something they dwell on.

Williams incurred the injury with just a few minutes remaining in the game while attempting to make a tackle. His arm got pinned in between a teammate and a Saints receiver and was twisted awkwardly. Williams' held his right arm in place with his left arm as he walked gingerly off the field, and he didn't return to the contest.

According to ESPN NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert, Williams was holding his right arm in the locker room following the game.

Williams has yet to be diagnosed, but all indications are that he has an arm or possibly shoulder injury. If Williams were to miss a significant amount of time, it would certainly adversely affect the Green Bay defense, but it isn't something the unit couldn't overcome.

The Packers were absolutely ravaged by injuries last season from start to finish.

Offensively, running back Ryan Grant and tight end Jermichael Finley were both lost to season-ending injuries in the season's first month. Defensively, linebackers Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar, Brady Poppinga and Brad Jones all ended up on injured reserve at some point.

Even so, the Packers snuck into the playoffs in 2010 and reached the Super Bowl with relative ease before dispatching the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even in the Super Bowl, however, the Packers had to overcome injuries to wide receiver Donald Driver and cornerback Charles Woodson. In Woodson's absence, undrafted rookie Sam Shields stepped in and excelled on the sport's biggest stage.

Because of Shields' presence, Williams won't have to rush back from whatever his ailment may be. Instead, Shields can move from his nickel post to the outside and other talented corners like Pat Lee or Jarrett Bush can hold down the fort in the slot in the meantime.

To help matters, the Packers don't play again for 10 days, so if the injury isn't too severe, then Williams will have plenty of time to heal. If he can't come back that quickly, it still won't be an issue, though, as Green Bay faces rookie quarterback Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.

With that said, pass defense won't exactly be at a premium for the Packers in that game.

If any other team were losing a player the caliber of Williams, then it might be a major concern. The Packers proved last season that they have a "next man in" mentality, though, so when a starter gets injured, the backups are perfectly capable of stepping in and playing just as well.