The Packers' already lengthy injury list grew even longer Tuesday, when third-year offensive tackle/guard Mark Tauscher was forced to leave practice with an injured elbow.
"We were in the four-minute offensive mode and he took a helmet to the back of the elbow and either hyperextended or sprained his elbow as far as we know," GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman explained. "What we anticipate is maybe an MCL (medial collateral ligament) sprain of the elbow, very similar to Terry Glenn's knee."
Tauscher was undergoing tests during the latter half of the morning practice to assess the actual extent of the injury.
While the initial prognosis did not suggest that Tauscher would be unavailable for the regular season opener, certainly his participation in Saturday's preseason game at Arizona is in question.
The loss of Tauscher would only further deplete an already thin offensive line, which lost starting center Mike Flanagan to a broken thumb August 2. Ten-year veteran Earl Dotson is slated to be Tauscher's primary backup at tackle, but is recovering from an injured knee and has yet to see time in training camp.
Although Dotson is expected to return to practice as early as Wednesday, the Packers will likely look to Kevin Barry, a 6-4, 325-pound rookie out of the University of Arizona, who has been praised for his rapid development during camp.
"He got a lot of work today and did a very, very good job," Sherman said of Barry. "The kid is well ahead of the learning curve physically and mentally. He's doing a very good job, so if Tausch can't go this weekend -- that may be speculative at this point -- Barry will do a heck of a job."
