The Green Bay Packers' defense might have to absorb another season-ending injury to a starter.
Nick Barnett likely will need surgery to repair his injured right wrist, sources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Wednesday., meaning the linebacker wouldn't play again in 2010.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said there is "definitely a possibility" that Barnett could be out for an extended period of time. McCarthy said Barnett and linebacker Brandon Chillar, who has a shoulder injury, are receiving second opinions this week.
The Journal Sentinel reported that Barnett will receive his second opinion Friday, then decide whether or not to have surgery.
Barnett, an eight-year veteran, was injured during the first half of last weekend's victory over the Detroit Lions. He left the game, then returned to the field wearing a cast and said afterward that the wrist wasn't broken.
Barnett isn't accustomed to missing games. Since the Packers made him a first-round draft pick in 2003, Barnett has played in 113 of 121 games in his career, including playoffs, and he needs just eight tackles to break John Anderson's all-time franchise record, according to the Journal Sentinel.
Desmond Bishop could join A.J. Hawk in Green Bay's starting lineup at inside linebacker if Barnett is sidelined, the newspaper reported.
The Packers also are hurting at safety. Rookie Morgan Burnett tore an anterior cruciate ligament against the Lions and is out for the season. And veteran Nick Collins had to sit out practice Wednesday because of a nagging knee injury, making his status for Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins unclear.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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