DE Justin Harrell, the team's oft-injured 2007 first-round draft pick, landed on injured reserve as the Packers set their 53-man roster. Harrell underwent two separate surgeries last year for a herniated disc in his lower back and played in only six games last season. After the defensive end made it through the offseason unscathed, the back flared up a week into training camp last month, and he never returned to the field. So, the return for the Packers so far after three seasons of making a hefty investment in Harrell has been a grand total of only 13 games and two starts out of 48 regular-season games.GM Ted Thompson isn't ready to cut the cord with Harrell, who is 25. "We're going to commit six, eight, 10 months of intensive rehab, intensive core strengthening and try to get this remedied," Thompson said. "Nobody's given up on anybody. The Packers haven't given up on him, and he hasn't given up on the Packers. So, we'll go forward." Thompson indicated that another operation on Harrell's back isn't imminent. 99//2009

Harrell was placed on the IR because of a back injury.
09/13/2009