In what could be Brett Favre’s final season, the Packers had hoped to enter camp with optimism. But Donald Driver is raising eyebrows with a nagging shoulder injury which has sapped his strength and consequently landed him a spot on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

It’s a hard blow to the Packers because Driver has been the team’s leading wide receiver for the past two seasons and Brett Favre’s only reliable target.

Fantasy owners too will feel the repercussions if Driver misses playing time during the regular season; he finished 2006 as the number five fantasy receiver and he has been in the top 15 in four of the past five seasons.

But how severe is the injury? That question is left unanswered for now. All we do know is that it came to be when Driver first injured the shoulder in Week 14 on Dec. 10 at San Francisco. He did return to the game and he has spent little time this season giving special attention to the shoulder, instead sticking to regular workout.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s words are somewhat optimistic, if not a bit cryptic.

“He has a re-occurring injury with the shoulder that he hurt last year, so, he will be day-to-day with the shoulder,” McCarthy said. “I’m not concerned. Like all of us (know), Donald will keep himself in excellent shape year round. It’s just something Donald’s coming into camp with. So, we’re just being cautious with it.”

That doesn’t tell us much. Driver himself doesn’t know how long it will be before he’ll be able to play again.

“There’s nothing I can do about it,” the 32 year old wide receiver said. “I may feel like I can go but I have to pass that physical.”

Let’s hope he does; the Packers’ season could rest in the balance, and losing him to injury (and thus inconsistency) will also take away a top wide receiver from fantasy teams.

Photo: Courtesy PackersNews.com

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