Blogs

Small fire at Lambeau Field

A minor fire occurred today on the construction site for the Lambeau Field expansion. The organization was very pleased that no one was injured. The Green Bay Packers appreciated the quick action by Miron personnel and other workers on site, as well as the subsequent work of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department, along with the Howard Fire Department. Damage was limited and is not expected to affect the project.

T.J. Lang confident he’ll be ready, but where will he play?

Offensive lineman T.J. Lang didn’t like sitting out last week’s game, the first one he’s missed since the start of 2011, when he became a full-time starter.

But he admitted it was best for him not to push it on his sore ankle, and he was back at practice on Wednesday feeling pretty good about his chances to play on Sunday in Chicago.

“That was probably the best-case scenario to give me an extra gameday to heal up and not bang it up any more and be close to fully recovered this week,” Lang said. “Those guys who played in the game last week all played well, so it was probably the smartest decision to sit out.”

Mike McCarthy said after practice that Lang took most of his reps on Wednesday at his old spot, left guard, which could indicate the Packers are going to stick with undrafted rookie Don Barclay at right tackle, who made his first start last week. Then again, McCarthy reiterated that Evan Dietrich-Smith, who had been playing Lang’s LG spot while Lang was playing RT in place of Bryan Bulaga, earned an offensive game ball for his performance last week.

McCarthy said he wants to see how Lang looks in practice throughout the week before making a final decision, so the offensive line will be prepared for various scenarios.

“We want to make sure Don Barclay gets as many reps as he can outside (at tackle),” McCarthy said. “We’ll make sure we’re ready to go.”

Lang said he had no trouble moving back to LG after his roughly month-long stint at RT. The best guess for now is if Lang is healthy enough to play, he’ll be back at his old spot.

“Like riding a bike, man,” Lang said. “It’s something I’ve done a lot of and it’s where my comfort level is.”

In other injury news, McCarthy said WR Jordy Nelson (hamstring) would be a longshot to play this week. The same goes for DE C.J. Wilson, whose knee injury is more serious than initially thought, though McCarthy still sounded hopeful Wilson could be back by season’s end. He has missed the last two games.

Also on the defensive line, DE Mike Neal (shoulder) practiced on Wednesday somewhat unexpectedly. The Packers signed another D-lineman, Jordan Miller, to the active roster from the practice squad on Tuesday due to the injuries to Wilson and Neal, but Neal is “making progress.”

CB Davon House missed practice due to an illness.

Listen to the Chicago Bears’ conference calls

Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith and QB Jay Cutler were made available to the media via conference call Wednesday afternoon. To listen to Smith and Cutler talk about Sunday’s game in Chicago, click on the links below.

- Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith
- Bears QB Jay Cutler

Matthews, Lang, Neal back at practice on Wednesday, but Woodson, Nelson, House not

LB Clay Matthews returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his hamstring on Nov. 4 vs. Arizona. Matthews has missed the last four games, but it appears he could return to game action this Sunday in Chicago.

Also, OL T.J. Lang (ankle) and DL Mike Neal (shoulder) also returned to practice after missing last week’s games.

On the flip side, DB Charles Woodson was not at practice despite having practiced off and on the past couple of weeks. Woodson hasn’t played in a game since breaking his collarbone in Week 7 in St. Louis and it was thought he might return to action this week. Mike McCarthy should provide an update when he speaks with the media following practice at the top of the hour.

Another defensive back, CB Davon House, was sitting out practice as well. House has not been on the team’s injury report since recovering from his preseason shoulder injury.

WR Jordy Nelson also was not at practice. Nelson missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury, his second such injury this season.

On another note, several of the offensive linemen and tight ends began practice with a little prank for their quarterback. Today is “Aaron Rodgers Day” in honor of the numerical date (12-12-12) and several of Rodgers’ offensive mates were wearing No. 12 Rodgers jerseys at the start of practice. Shortly into the workout, all had changed back to their regular jerseys, but for some of the initial jog-through snaps early in practice, as many as a half-dozen players running an offensive play had a No. 12 jersey on.