Blogs

Cobb, Nelson, Boykin, McMillian all miss practice Wed.

The state of the Packers’ receiving corps is suddenly in a bit of doubt after WRs Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin all were absent from practice on Wednesday during the portion of the workout open to reporters.

Nelson didn’t play a full game last week, while Boykin missed it entirely. Both were listed on the injury report. Cobb missed the regular-season finale at Minnesota due to ankle and knee injuries, but it isn’t known if his absence on Wednesday was related to that. Mike McCarthy will address the media and issue the first injury report of the week following practice.

Also, S Jerron McMillian missed practice for the second straight day, and veteran C Jeff Saturday appeared very limited and was not participating in the drills with his position group.

Post-practice update: McCarthy said he wasn’t overly concerned about the receiver position for Saturday. Cobb was home due to illness, and the coach is “hopeful” Nelson can practice on Thursday. Nelson has been dealing with an “ongoing” ankle issue.

McMillian has been absent due to a personal issue and was supposed to be traveling back to Green Bay on Wednesday, McCarthy said.

Tramon Williams probable for Packers; Ponder, Winfield questionable for Vikings

Packers CB Tramon Williams, who missed Thursday’s practice due to illness, is listed as probable on the injury report for Saturday night’s game.

Of the four Packers pass-catchers on the injury report, only WR Jarrett Boykin (ankle) is out. WR Randall Cobb, WR Jordy Nelson and TE Jermichael Finley are all probable.

Also listed as probable are RB Alex Green, CB Davon House and DB Charles Woodson.

RB James Starks (knee) is listed as questionable, while DE Jerel Worthy (knee) is out. Worthy’s injury is season-ending.

The Vikings are listing two starters as questionable — QB Christian Ponder (elbow) and CB Antoine Winfield (hand). Ponder developed a sore elbow following a hit from Packers S Morgan Burnett on a blitz last Sunday but finished the game without incident. Winfield tried to play with a soft cast on his broken hand but removed himself from the game by halftime.

The only player the Vikings have ruled out is backup LB Tyrone McKenzie (shoulder). The other eight Vikings on the injury report — including starters DE Jared Allen, DE Brian Robison, S Harrison Smith and RB Adrian Peterson — are all probable.

Randall Cobb to video chat with fans Wed. at 4 p.m. CT

Packers WR Randall Cobb will be hosting a Google+ Hangout with fans on Wednesday, January 2 at 4 p.m. CT. The video chat will be streamed live on Packers.com.

After reviewing submissions from fans explaining why they deserved to be chosen, Packers.com selected five lucky fans to go face-to-face with Cobb in the video chat.

Remember, even if you weren’t selected, you can still watch the video chat LIVE on the Packers.com homepage.

Check out our previous Google+ Hangouts:

- LB Clay Matthews (June 6)
- QB Aaron Rodgers (August 28)
- WR Jordy Nelson (November 1)

Randall Cobb in, Jordy Nelson out at practice Tues.

WR Randall Cobb was practicing during the media portion of the Packers’ jog-thru workout on Tuesday, but WR Jordy Nelson was not.

Cobb missed last week’s game with knee and ankle injuries but appears on track to return this week for the rematch in the NFC Wild Card playoff against the Vikings. Nelson injured his knee in last Sunday’s game at the Metrodome and came out briefly but returned to catch a game-tying TD pass in the fourth quarter.

Also not practicing on Tuesday were WR Jarrett Boykin (ankle) and DE Jerel Worthy (knee), who both left Sunday’s game with injuries.

CB Davon House was back at practice after missing last week’s game, and DB Charles Woodson continued to practice and could be on track to return after missing the final nine games of the regular season.

At running back, Alex Green didn’t play in last Sunday’s game but was practicing. Also, RB James Starks was at practice with helmet in hand, but in the portion open to the media did not appear to be participating.

Mike McCarthy will address the media after practice, near the top of the hour.

Post-practice update: Cobb spoke with reporters after practice and said he expects to play on Saturday.

“It was about a 50-50 decision,” Cobb said of sitting out last Sunday in Minnesota. “We felt it was the best option to hold out and I think I’ll be ready to go this week.”

McCarthy declined to comment on Nelson’s absence from practice, however, only saying he’d have more information on Wednesday. The first official injury report of the week will be on Wednesday.

Randall Cobb to video chat with fans Wednesday, Jan. 2

Do you want to video chat live with Packers WR Randall Cobb? Packers.com is holding a Google+ Hangout on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 2.

Approximately five Packers fans will be selected to participate in this exclusive Hangout. Within the comments on the Packers’ Google+ page, post a link to a 30-60 second video of yourself explaining why you deserve to be selected. You must submit a video for consideration. Click here to enter for a chance to participate. Videos should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Sunday, December 30. Make sure to check your Google+ profile often to find out whether you’ve been selected to participate.

What is a Google+ Hangout?

It’s a live video chat hosted by Google – and it’s your opportunity to go face-to-face with Cobb. Check out our previous Google+ Hangouts:

- LB Clay Matthews (June 6)
- QB Aaron Rodgers (August 28)
- WR Jordy Nelson (November 1)

Fans will be notified by December 31 if they have been selected to participate.

Cobb back at practice Friday

WR Randall Cobb was back at practice on Friday, doing what probably will be considered limited work. He could be seen making cuts to deliberately test his tender ankle. The final update on his injury status will come from Mike McCarthy after practice.

Also, CB Davon House (shoulder/hip) was not practicing for the second straight day, and it appears as though his injury will keep him sidelined Sunday in Minnesota.

Post-practice update: Cobb is listed on the injury report as questionable, and he’ll be evaluated further on Saturday morning.

House is listed as doubtful, while CB Charles Woodson (collarbone) and RB James Starks (knee) have been ruled out.

Everyone else on the Packers’ injury report is probable, which would mean the return to the field for the following players who have missed games recently: TE Tom Crabtree, WR Jordy Nelson, DE C.J. Wilson, DE Jerel Worthy and RB Alex Green.

Randall Cobb will test ankle on Friday

WR Randall Cobb said he’s feeling better every day, and the plan is to have him test his injured ankle on Friday to see if he can play on Sunday in Minnesota. He’s not making any promises, but he’s giving himself a chance.

“I think it’s a possibility,” Cobb said on Thursday after he observed practice. “We’re going to take it day by day and see where we are on Sunday.”

Cobb is thankful to feel the way he does right now because he was admittedly worried when he was injured on a third-quarter punt return against Tennessee. He exited the field and went to the locker room under his own power, but he said that’s because of who was watching.

“I jogged off the field because my mom was there,” Cobb said. “My mom, I know she was crazy in the stands. That’s the only reason I jogged off the field.

“Sunday, I was hurting pretty bad. When I woke up Monday, I felt a lot better. Just trying to get better each day.”

Cobb is listed on the injury report with both ankle and knee injuries, but he said the ankle is the bigger issue.

Mike McCarthy said earlier this week he wasn’t pulling Cobb off of return duties despite the increased risk, and Cobb likes it that way.

“I love football, I love being on the field,” he said. “I think if I wasn’t on returns, it would take away form who I am and what I do.

“Statistically, it may show that (there’s greater injury risk on special teams), but this is a physical, dangerous game that we play. At any given time, your career could end.

“You can’t go out there and play scared. You’ve got to go out there and play ball, regardless of what play it is, if it’s special teams, offense or defense.”

Fellow WR Jordy Nelson, who has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, was a full participant in Thursday’s full-pads practice and appears on track to return to the field.

“I’m not thinking about it,” Nelson said of his hamstring, which he has tweaked twice this season. “I don’t think you can. Going into it, you have to have the confidence that you’re ready to go. I have through he rehab I’ve done, the testing I’ve done, and obviously a week of practice. We’ve got one more day to continue to feel it out, and we’ll be ready to roll.”

Sitton, Crosby back at practice Thursday

G Josh Sitton (concussion) and K Mason Crosby (illness), who both missed Wednesday’s practice, were back on the practice field on Thursday, though it appeared in the portion open to the media that Sitton was very limited in his activities.

The Packers were practicing in pads, their last padded practice of the regular season and their first in a few weeks. WR Randall Cobb (ankle/knee) was not practicing, nor was CB Davon House (shoulder). RB James Starks (knee) also remained out.

Six Packers lead NFC Pro Bowl fan voting at their positions

Led by QB Aaron Rodgers, who earned the fifth-most votes overall in the recently concluded fan voting for the Pro Bowl, six Packers pulled in the most votes at their respective positions.

The other position leaders in the NFC are FB John Kuhn, C Jeff Saturday, KR Randall Cobb, OLB Clay Matthews and SS Charles Woodson.

Voting by the players and coaches has not yet been tabulated. Fan voting counts one-third in the selection process for the Pro Bowl rosters, which will be announced next Wednesday.

As the top NFC QB, Rodgers finished fifth overall in the fan voting with 777,827 votes. Leading the way was Broncos QB Peyton Manning (993,045), followed by Patriots QB Tom Brady (980,099), Texans RB Arian Foster (829,591) and Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (828,255).

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.”