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Charles Woodson ruled out again

Following the recommendation of the team’s medical staff, Mike McCarthy has ruled out DB Charles Woodson (collarbone) for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Vikings.

Recently, McCarthy spoke of wanting to get Woodson in a game prior to the playoffs, because he hasn’t played since breaking the collarbone in St. Louis on Oct. 21. This week will mark the ninth straight game he’s missed.

“We were hopeful this was going to be the game,” McCarthy said. “This is his fourth week now going through practice.

“I know he’s disappointed. This is a game he’d really like to play in.”

Woodson continues to work on the scout team in practice.

The defensive line could be in better shape than it’s been in a while, however. DE C.J. Wilson returned to practice on a limited basis. he has missed the last four games with a knee injury. Also, DE Jerel Worthy was back at practice as a limited participant after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury.

“C.J. Wilson is doing everything he possibly can to get on the field,” McCarthy said, adding that Thursday will be a big day for Wilson, as the team practices in full pads for the first time in a few weeks. “He wants to play.”

Defensive line could be thin on Sunday

With DE C.J. Wilson still out with a knee injury and DE Mike Neal added to the injury report on Wednesday with a shoulder injury, the Packers’ defensive line could be a bit thin come Sunday against the Lions.

Mike McCarthy said he didn’t have a lot of information on Neal’s shoulder, but he didn’t “feel real good about what the medical staff told” him about Neal. That would indicate Neal’s chances of playing this week are slim, and if Wilson remains out, that would leave the Packers with only four healthy defensive linemen — B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and rookies Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels.

In other injury news, it sounds like rookie Don Barclay could get his first NFL start at right tackle in place of T.J. Lang, whose injured ankle is “not progressing the way he’d like,” according to McCarthy. Lang sat out practice on Wednesday.

WR Jordy Nelson also sat out practice, as did LB Clay Matthews. Both have hamstring injuries, and McCarthy said he didn’t know if either would be ready to play this week and didn’t get into specifics. “I’m about timelined out,” McCarthy said.

Veteran C Jeff Saturday was also added to the injury report with a foot injury. He was limited in practice, but McCarthy said he expects Saturday to be able to play against the Lions.

In summary, the injury list doesn’t seem to be getting any shorter for the Packers, but they’re so used to dealing with it by now that the typical response is a shrug of the shoulders.

“Self-pity is a waste of time, a waste of emotion,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s part of the National Football League. I don’t think we’ve created any secret formula how we go about it, we just stay focused on what’s in front of us, and you have to, especially these division games. They’re so important.”

The positive injury news came in the form of Charles Woodson’s return to practice from a broken collarbone. He was listed as limited on the injury report, the first time he has participated in practice since the injury, which occurred on Oct. 21 at St. Louis.

The Packers will practice in pads on Thursday, and McCarthy didn’t say whether Woodson would go in pads, which would be the next step to returning to game action.

“He’s getting close,” McCarthy said. “It’s a good start.”

Driver, Pickett, Wilson not practicing Wednesday

Depending on the post-practice update from Mike McCarthy, the Packers could be a little thin on the defensive line for Sunday’s showdown against the Vikings and RB Adrian Peterson.

DL Ryan Pickett and C.J. Wilson were both sitting out practice on Wednesday during the portion of the workout open to reporters. Pickett will be new to the injury list when it is released after practice. Wilson left Sunday night’s game against the Giants with a knee injury.

Also, WR Donald Driver was not practicing. Driver has been on the injury report with a thumb injury, but he hasn’t missed any games. Backup RB Johnny White, who left Sunday’s game with a concussion, also did not practice.

Continuing to sit out on defense were DB Charles Woodson, CB Sam Shields and LB Clay Matthews.

Brad Jones, C.J. Wilson to start; Packers-Giants gameday inactives

The following players have been declared as inactive for Sunday’s Packers-Giants NFC Divisional playoff game at Lambeau Field:

Green Bay Packers
6 QB Graham Harrell
31 CB Davon House
49 LB Robert Francois
72 T Herb Taylor
84 TE D.J. Williams
95 NT Howard Green
97 LB Vic So’oto

Starting lineup changes: On defense, #98 C.J. Wilson will start at right defensive end for #95 Howard Green. #59 Brad Jones will start at right outside linebacker for #93 Erik Walden.

New York Giants
13 WR Ramses Barden
33 RB Da’Rel Scott
58 LB Mark Herzlich
63 C Jim Cordle
69 DE Justin Trattou
73 DT Jimmy Kennedy
79 T James Brewer