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Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers have lost another defensive starter for at least a month after safety Darnell Savage‘s calf injury will require him to go on injured reserve, a source told ESPN.
Savage was first injured in the Oct. 9 loss at the Raiders but then returned after the bye week only to re-injure it in Sunday’s loss at the Broncos. The source said that Savage is expected to play again this season. His earliest possible return after sitting out the requisite four games on IR would be the Packers’ Thanksgiving game at Detroit.
The Packers were already without two defensive starters against the Broncos with cornerback Jaire Alexander (back) and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (ankle) both missing their third games of the season.
In addition to Savage, the Packers (2-4) also lost defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee) and cornerback Eric Stokes (hamstring) during the game at Denver. Their status for Sunday’s game against the Vikings remains up in the air. For Stokes, who was hurt after four special teams plays, it was his first action in nearly a year after sustaining foot and knee injuries last November. He was just added to the active roster on Saturday.
If those injuries weren’t enough, tight end Luke Musgrave also left the game with an ankle injury on the hit that got Broncos safety Kareem Jackson ejected from the game and subsequently suspended for the next two games.
“It’s amazing,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of the injury situation after the Broncos’ game. “It’s like every game it kind of compounds on itself.”
Savage, the fifth-year former first-round pick, has started all six games this season and ranks fourth on the Packers in tackles. Veteran Jonathan Owens replaced Savage against the Broncos and is the most likely candidate to fill in until Savage is healthy.