Green Bay Packers Injury Update: Safety Nick Collins Placed on Injured Reserve

Head coach Mike McCarthy announced Monday that safety Nick Collins will be placed on injured reserve because of a neck injury suffered against the Carolina Panthers, reported Packers.com.

Collins neck was jammed against the thigh of a Panthers player and snapped back. He remained on the field for a number of minutes, but was able to wave as he was taken off on the stretcher. 

After the first two tests came back positive yesterday, the Packers received news that the injury could be quite serious. McCarthy and the medical staff decided it was best to place Collins on season-ending injured reserve.

The Packers initially hoped that Collins could come back with the team flight, but he spent the night in a Charlotte hospital before returning to Green Bay this morning.    

Charlie Peprah is the most likely replacement for the time being, but the Packers will look elsewhere to bring in some depth to the unit. Peprah played exceptional well last season filling in for the other safety Morgan Burnett after he was injured. 

The news hurts the Packers, as they were hoping to avoid the injury-bug that plagued them for most of the last season. The Packers front office is known for bringing in players and getting them up to speed quickly.

With a neck injury, football becomes secondary and making sure Collins can live a normal, healthy life is the number one priority.