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Several players miss practice Wed.

A total of nine players were not practicing on Wednesday during the portion of the workout open to the media.

Those whose injuries are known include RB James Starks (knee), TE Tom Crabtree (hamstring), WR Jordy Nelson (hamstring) and DE C.J. Wilson (knee).

But five additional players, who all played in last Sunday’s game but were not yet reported to have new injuries, also sat out. They were RB Alex Green, C Jeff Saturday, G/T T.J. Lang, LB Erik Walden and DE Jerel Worthy. Saturday (foot) and Lang (ankle) have been on the injury report in recent weeks.

Mike McCarthy will address the media with an update following practice.

Benson officially out for season

Mike McCarthy announced on Thursday that RB Cedric Benson had surgery on his injured foot Wednesday and would remain on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

When Benson initially injured the foot in Week 5 in Indianapolis, he was placed on IR with the designation to return. But that return now won’t happen. Benson said as recently as two weeks ago that he was going to be able to avoid surgery, but in the end, it was necessary.

That leaves the Packers with three healthy running backs in James Starks, Alex Green and John Kuhn.

“I feel we have a good rotation,” McCarthy said. “It’s really just finding the things they all do well, and playing to that and having them in sync with the run-blocking unit. I thought the way we started last game, and Arizona was a good game. If we can find that rhythm, it will definitely benefit us.”

Last week against the Giants, the aforementioned trio plus Randall Cobb combined for 40 rushing yards on 10 carries in the first half, a solid 4.0 average. But trailing 31-10 at halftime, the Packers were forced to get away from the run. Against Arizona before the bye, Starks and Green combined for 114 yards on 28 carries (4.1 avg.).

“We just need to pick up our end now,” Kuhn said. “I don’t think there’s just one in particular key. I think everybody just needs to detail their job – the line, the running backs, the wide receivers. The running game isn’t just the running back position. Every position falls into it.”

RB Green, TE Quarless not practicing Friday

RB Alex Green and TE Andrew Quarless were not participating in practice on Friday during the portion open to the media. Quarless sat out practice on Thursday and appears headed to inactive status for Sunday’s game.

Green, however, was not on the injury report this week, so he’ll have to be added. Coming off ACL surgery last year, it could be that Green is just getting a day off and he hasn’t had any sort of flare-up or setback, but either way, Mike McCarthy will address it following practice.

CB Charles Woodson, WR Greg Jennings and LB Clay Matthews already have been ruled out of Sunday’s game. If Quarless is also inactive, that will leave only three more inactive decisions to make.

RB Alex Green not practicing Friday

In the portion of Friday’s practice open to the media, RB Alex Green was not practicing. Green hasn’t been on the injury report all week, so one possibility is that this was a planned day off as part of his comeback from reconstructive knee surgery. Green was on a snap count all through training camp and the preseason.

We’ll know more when Mike McCarthy addresses the media after practice and the final injury report for the week is released.

Also not practicing Friday were RB James Starks and LB Jamari Lattimore. CB Davon House was doing some drills but was not wearing his helmet and did not appear to be a full participant.

Post-practice update: Green’s day of rest was planned, and he is listed as probable on the injury report for Sunday’s game.

RB Green rounding into form

For all the talk surrounding new RB Cedric Benson’s preseason debut Thursday night, the game in Cincinnati will be another important step for RB Alex Green as well.

Coming off of reconstructive knee surgery, Green has been on a snap count throughout training camp but has managed it well with no setbacks to speak of. He got three carries in the preseason opener in San Diego and then four in last week’s game vs. Cleveland, averaging 4 yards per tote in the second game. He had one 5-yard run that nearly ruptured into a longer gain, but Green was tripped up.

With the status of James Starks (turf toe) uncertain at this point for the start of the regular season, the starting job for Sept. 9 could come down to Green or Benson. Green is getting closer to being able to handle a larger load, according to his position coach, Alex Van Pelt, and he looks to continue making progress.

“I think he’s getting stronger every day,” Van Pelt said. “As he feels more confident in his knee and the work he’s getting out there, I think you can see the explosiveness and the pad level and what he brings as a runner. You can see it in practice, and hopefully it will translate over this week to the game.”