The Packers' injury-plagued secondary took another hit Wednesday, when safety Darren Sharper was forced to leave practice with pain in his lower back.
Sharper "jammed" his neck while making a tackle in the team's 9-on-7 drills, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said after the morning practice. Although the injury is not expected to be serious, Sherman said Sharper could miss "a day, or two" of practice.
Even though that timetable would have Sharper back in time for the Packers' Monday night preseason home opener against the Cleveland Browns, it won't make the team's practices run any more smoothly in the meantime. Sharper's primary backup at free safety, Matt Bowen, has been spending a considerable amount of time at the strong safety position, while Antuan Edwards and Marques Anderson battle back from injuries of their own.
Thankfully Anderson's sore hamstring appears to be improving. After sitting out the Arizona game last weekend, Anderson has participated in all the team's practices this week, even coming up with a stunning interception Tuesday.