Jim Owczarski

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

GREEN BAY - Late Sunday afternoon, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst insisted that his first 53-man roster was fluid. And when asked directly if there were players who could be put on injured reserve, he said, “I would like to think that all the guys we have will be playing for us sometime this season, but we’re working through a couple things right now.”

One of those things was determining that the SC joint in Jake Kumerow’s shoulder has not healed as expected following his somersault in the end zone against Pittsburgh back on Aug. 16. The Packers placed the wide receiver on injured reserve Monday morning and signed veteran linebacker Korey Toomer to fill the roster spot.

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For his part, Kumerow felt such a move would be made.

"I figured, because when they brought me on to the active I realized like, oh, that’s great, I’m on the 53, I’m pumped, I’m happy, but I thought you know, are they just going to keep me inactive until I’m healthy for like a couple of weeks?" he said in his final media availability until he comes off IR. "I figured something else was going to happen. I figured that the IR was going to be the case but I still have, according to the doctor, a couple more weeks, and you can’t overrule a doctor.”

Because the Packers made the move after the 53-man cutdown, Kumerow is eligible to return to the roster after Week 8 of the regular season.

"I just hope that when I get back healthy that the numbers work out and I’ll be able to find my way back in here,” Kumerow said.

“It feels good to have them have their eye on me on that way, knowing that I’m hurt but giving me the chance to be able to come back and have an impact on this team. It gives me a lot of confidence and it makes me feel good about going into the year.”

And as for the fateful tumble into the end zone against the Steelers that wound up being his last play to date, Kumerow said he wouldn't change a thing.

“No. I’d do it again if I had a chance," he said. "I was just trying to score, do whatever it takes."