A protective cover for a prosthetic implant is a flexible body defining an interior space in which a prosthetic implant is receivable. The body includes a lip and an area of weakness formed in one side of the body extending from the lip to a central (i.e., top) portion of the body. The cover can also include an elongated tab extending from a side of the body opposite the slit. The cover covers an exterior surface of the implant when the implant is received in the interior space and thereby prevents soft tissues through which the implant is advanced during surgical introduction of the implant into a joint of patient from contacting and becoming adherent to the exterior surface of the implant. The cover can be extracted and the implant released from the interior space through the area of weakness and into the joint by applying a pulling force to a side of the body opposite the area of weakness.
