Green Bay Packers starting safety Morgan Burnett will be lost for the year with a torn ACL.
Burnett suffered the injury early in the Packers victory over the Detroit Lions, on Sunday, and played around 10 snaps before coming off the field. He was replaced by Derrick Martin.
The injury is a blow to a Packers defense that gave up more than 400 yards to the Lions and is already somewhat thin at safety.
Behind Burnett is Charlie Peprah, who was held out of the Lions game with an injury, and Martin. Peprah has a total of 27 tackles in his five-year career and Martin isn’t much more than a special teams player.
Cornerback Jarrett Bush, who has played well this season, also has some experience at safety, but it isn’t his natural position.
One potential ray of hope is Atari Bigby, who is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list after week six. Bigby, who had ankle surgery in the summer, could probably be ready to play by week eight if he’s healthy enough.
That, of course, is a big if. Bigby hasn’t participated in a single practice or game since last season.
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