Lost in the Packers blowout win this afternoon over the visiting Bills was the departure of offensive tackle Chad Clifton from the huddle to the bench late in the first half. Clifton was replaced on the line by the Packers first round pick Bryan Bulaga.

While it seemed to be more a result of Clifton being injured than anything else, the latest news out of Green Bay opens the door to a different line of reasoning for the switch. According to Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the move is likely to be a permanent one, given Clifton’s health concerns and poor play as a result.

Clifton is a long standing veteran in  Green Bay,  and his absence from the huddle could be problematic, especially if Bulaga struggles to handle the the responsibilities of protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ blind side against the league’s premier pass rushers.

If his injuries continue to keep him off the field, Clifton could very well choose to retire rather than make a come back, but regardless of his decision, his time with the Packers will undoubtedly be complete.

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