After seeing two of their starters on defense go down with injuries Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, one thing the Green Bay Packers aren't thankful for this week is the quick turnaround between games.
Middle linebacker Nick Barnett and safety Darren Sharper are both listed as questionable for Thursday's Thanksgiving match-up with the Detroit Lions after sustaining ankle and rib injuries, respectively, in the Packers' 20-10 victory over the weekend.
Both players sat out of the Packers' walkthrough practice Monday afternoon, which was closed to the media.
Until further notice, that means second-year veteran Marques Anderson will likely replace Sharper in the secondary next to Antuan Edwards, while third-year veteran Torrance Marshall is in line to make just his second career start in place of Barnett at middle linebacker.
"Looks like it," Marshall said Monday. "I'm just excited to play ... get out there and have fun on Thanksgiving. Everybody's going to be watching."
Marshall filled in for Barnett on run downs for the entire second half of Sunday's game, making three tackles in his most significant playing time of the season.
GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said Marshall was slightly out of position on one play, but made no mental errors and played solidly for the most part.
"Overall I thought he did okay," Sherman said. "And with (practice) reps, if he has to play this week, he'll get better."
It isn't out of the question that Barnett can be back in the lineup this week, but with only three days between games he doesn't have much time to heal.
Also a concern is whether playing Thursday could jeopardize the availability down the line of Barnett, who is the team's leader in tackles (102) and interceptions (3).
"Anybody says 'ankle sprain,' those things can last a fair amount of time," Sherman said. "He has not really been injured here, so it's hard for me to have a history with him, but his history in college was that he healed pretty fast when things happened ... So hopefully that's the case here."
If Barnett can't play it will mark the first missed start of his career. Sharper hasn't missed a start all season, but was limited in Week 1 with a groin injury and played sparingly.
X-rays performed on Sharper's ribs during Sunday's game revealed no breaks.
If Sharper can't play, it would also increase the playing opportunities for Michael Hawthorne and Curtis Fuller.
Hawthorne has 12 tackles including a sack in nine games as a sub this season. Fuller has been among the Packers' inactives all but four games.
Anderson started 11 games at safety opposite Sharper last season.
Additional Injuries: Kenny Peterson (MCL sprain) and Marcus Spriggs (hamstring) will be listed as questionable ... Brett Favre (thumb) and Rob Davis (back) are probable.
