LANDOVER, Md. – It was more than an early-season L on the Green Bay Packers.

They played badly, no doubt, in their 31-17 loss to Washington. But this happens to almost every team during the long NFL season. Three weeks into the NFL season, only three teams (the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins) are 3-0.

But a team that had been remarkably healthy since training camp – yes, Aaron Rodgers is injured, but the least he can play – finally got shots that will leave a mark.

The Packers have a lot of players on the list, they can play well without. But injuries to Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle) and Bryan Bulaga (on the back) are the kind of losses that can erode their team.

It is probably safe to assume that Wilkerson's season is over. He had to leave FedEx Field on a cart and was taken to the hospital during the match.

It's going to cost a defense that's short on manufacturers of differences. Not that Wilkerson dominated, but one thing that new coordinator Mike Pettine did for him was a trio of quality defensive linemen (Wilkerson, Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark) who formed the core of the defense. the season. When Pettine needed to stop the race, he could put the three players on the field and have a good chance of succeeding. But now, Wilkerson is gone.

"These guys were playing well and playing well," said cornerback Tramon Williams. "… The next guy has to step in. It's really that simple.

Then there is Bulaga. He left the game at the end of the second quarter and never came back. And if we learned anything from training camp, it's because the Packers can not afford to lose one of their starting tackles for a long time, or worse, the season.

Jason Spriggs replaced Bulaga on Sunday and could not do it. He gave three bad presses on the first 11 games of the second half and some slaps had a wrong starting penalty. Especially with a crowded Rodgers, it's a big problem. All matches missed by Bulaga, the offensive plans of coach Mike McCarthy must change, not for the better.

The problem is that Packers do not have good options to replace both. They could move Justin McCray from the right guard to Bulaga's place, but McCray is much better inside, and no matter, he was injured on Sunday (shoulder) and could also be away for a while.

Other options are rookie Alex Light, a left forward who played little or no tackle in the camp, and veteran Byron Bell, who like McCray should be a guard.

There was no report after the match on the severity of Bulaga's injury, but if it takes him away for more than a week or two, the Packers have a real problem. Rodgers does not have the mobility to protect himself with his feet, and the tusks will feel the blood in the water if Bulaga is not on the ground. Rodgers and McCarthy can not be really excited about the opportunity to play without their proper tackle even for a match or two, even if they can not say anything that can help.

"Obviously, we'll see how (Bulaga and McCray) will feel this week," Rodgers said. "If they can not go, Byron (Bell) has to step in, Jason (Spriggs) needs to intervene or Lucas (Patrick) could step in (guard), and we have to keep rolling. There are no deadlines. "

The Packers, however, can not lose this loss by losing Wilkerson and Bulaga. They fell behind Washington while both were still on the field, and it was the mistakes of others that cost the game. With regular rain falling most of the day, Washington had no problem catching or catching the ball, but the Packers did. Randall Cobb (a fourth fall and a fourth-quarter fumble) and Lance Kendricks (an open bomb) had huge handling errors when Packers returned to the fourth quarter.

And Pettine's defense put Rodgers in a stalemate, giving up 28 points in the first period with the cover slip that drove Dom Capers out last year.

About the only things the Packers can feel when he gets out of it, Rodgers survived another week playing on his injured knee and his main rival in NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings, was destroyed at home ( 27-7). by Buffalo, of all the teams.

Rodgers said his knee was not feeling better this week than before, and it was painful to see him escape trying to escape the smugglers by dragging his leg. But at least he can play. That's probably how it will last a few months.

"I hope (it's better in a month or two)," said Rodgers. "I really do, sometimes it can be painful to move, especially in lateral displacement, but I'll be there if I'm up to it and try to bring this thing back in the right direction with a win next week.

If the Packers have learned anything from this one, it's because Aaron Jones has to take the ball earlier and earlier. He ran 42 yards in six races in his first game after missing the first two weeks of the season due to a drug suspension.

There is not much more to conclude from the 1-1-1 start of the Packers. They are in the same boat as most championships and the games that will define their season have not been played yet.

Muhammad Wilkerson will surely miss them, and they must hope that Bryan Bulaga will not be outdone.