Packers Punter To Miss Season

September 2, 1999 / 9:56 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Rookie punter Josh Bidwell needs further treatment for testicular cancer and will miss the 1999 season, Green Bay Packers GM Ron Wolf said Thursday.

Bidwell underwent surgery Wednesday, which appeared to be successful. But Wolf said early pathology results confirmed the punter will not be able to return in 2-4 weeks, as some published reports indicated.

The Packers made the announcement moments before the start of their preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.

"The prognosis is excellent," Wolf said. "We expect him to be 100 percent for the 2000 campaign."

Bidwell, the Packers' fourth-round draft pick from Oregon and the first punter drafted in 1999, was the only punter on Green Bay's roster. He also had been the primary holder for placekicker Ryan Longwell.

He practiced with the team Tuesday. Bidwell apparently noticed something was wrong a couple of days ago, reported it to a doctor and had an ultrasound exam Wednesday, resulting in the decision to do the surgery the same day.

"As more definitive results are available, a more specific treatment plan will be established," Wolf said.

The Packers claimed first-year punter Chris Hanson on waivers from the Cleveland Browns Wednesday to fill in for Bidwell.

Last week, the Packers kept Bidwell as their only punter even though he hadn't lived up to expectations in exhibition games. Then he had his best performance last weekend at New Orleans, averaging 43.5 yards on six punts.

The 6-foot-3 Bidwell's size and athleticism, along with his booming 46.0 yards-per-punt averaged during his senior season at Oregon, convinced the Packers to spend a fourth-round pick on him.