Packers veterans Harris and Kampman ruled out for the season
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Green Bay Packers were dealt a double blow on Monday when cornerback Al Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman were ruled out for the rest of the season with knee injuries.
Veterans Harris, 34, and Kampman, 29, were both injured during the second half of Sunday's 30-24 win against the San Francisco 49ers.
"Both individuals will have season-ending knee surgery," coach Mike McCarthy told a news conference. "It will be a big challenge for our football team.
"Aaron and Al have meant a lot to us and our football team. Both have over 100-plus starts. Our younger players, they're going to have to step up and get ready on a short week for Detroit."
The Packers, 6-4 this season, are vying for the National Football Conference wild card slot and face the struggling Detroit Lions (2-8) next on Thursday.
McCarthy said Harris was likely to be replaced by cornerback Tramon Williams.
"Tramon is the natural move," McCarthy added. "As far as moving forward at Aaron's position, that's what we'll spend today going through.
"Obviously the game plan for the Detroit Lions will factor into a lot of our decisions in who plays and where they play."
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles, editing by John Mehaffey)
