Mike

Neal

Coach Mike McCarthy characterized Neal’s timetable for return as “considerable,” which doesn’t sound good. McCarthy did say Neal isn’t an I.R. candidate yet. Jarius Wynn acquitted himself well at right end in the opener, racking up four tackles (three solo), and a sack. Wynn will remain the starter.

“They saw that some cartilage had chipped out in my knee,” Neal said. “They had to remove it. That cartilage is what was keeping my knee swollen and giving me the pain I was having.” The Packers have a Week 8 bye, so Neal will aim for a Week 9 return.

Coach Mike McCarthy said he’s planning to get Neal back following the Week 8 bye, but that’s in doubt. Neal originally went down in camp but didn’t have surgery until mid-September after his knee failed to respond to rest and rehab. Jarius Wynn has filled the void.

Neal is a weight-room warrior who has battled several injuries in his first two NFL seasons. The Packers were already expected to target a pass-rushing defensive end early in next month’s draft. The need is more pressing with Neal out of the lineup the first four games.

According to Neal, his positive test was triggered by a prescription medication he simply forgot to alert the Packers he was taking. Players are allowed to take properly prescribed medications that contain banned substances as long as they provide full “medical information.” Neal lost an appeal to have his ban overturned. Limited to seven games by a knee injury last season, Neal notched just three tackles and zero sacks.

Neal was limited to seven games last season and is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers. If the Packers target a pass-rushing defensive end early, Neal could become expendable. He’s no more than a potential-ridden “prospect” at this point.

Still recovering from shoulder surgery early in camp, Neal ended up requiring a knee procedure to clean out “chunks of cartilage.” The 2010 second-rounder could give the Packers’ defensive line a boost down the stretch.

The trochlear groove is the concave surface where the kneecap brushes up against the femur. Neal went under the knife in Week 2 with a recovery timetable of anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 weeks to injured reserve. Neal hasn’t made much of an impact in two weeks since returning, but he’s still getting his legs under him.

Expected to replace Cullen Jenkins at right end, Neal instead fell behind both Jarius Wynn and C.J. Wilson, managing just three tackles in seven games. The 56th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Neal is no more than a potential-ridden “prospect” at this point. The Packers must upgrade their pass rush this spring, finding a new right outside linebacker and competition at right end.

“He’s hit every target this week,” McCarthy said. “He was involved with team reps Saturday for the first time. That’s encouraging.” Neal is still recovering from a training-camp knee injury and has been ruled out for Week 10. When healthy, he figures to improve the Packers defensive line down the stretch.