Greg Jennings catches an 80-yard touchdown pass that put Green Bay in complete control in their NFC North-clinching win over Oakland. He was limited in Thursday's practice. | Photo: AP Battle with Seattle: Packers "Healthy as Hell"Next game: Saturday, January 12 Related Story: Battle with Seattle: GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about answering specific questions about player injuries during the regular season. So now that the playoffs have arrived, it stands to reason that he would be even less willing to share. McCarthy would prefer to keep the Seattle Seahawks guessing at who they might see at certain positions on Saturday. Asked about the injury outlook for players such as wide receivers Greg Jennings and James Jones and cornerback Charles Woodson, McCarthy instead spoke about his team's general good health. "Everybody's fine," McCarthy said. "We're healthy as hell and we're ready to go." Cornerback/punt returner Will Blackmon was listed as limited in Thursday's practice, although he wasn't present for the portion of practice that was open to the media. "We're feeling really good about our football team," McCarthy said. "He's the one that's not doing as well." One day after filing their shortest injury report of the season -- only six players -- the Packers added linebacker Nick Barnett and defensive lineman Corey Williams to their injury report on Thursday. Both were limited in Thursday's practice with hamstring issues. McCarthy said Barnett's hamstring was just sore, not injured. "We were just being smart, so we just limited him today," McCarthy said. "We've had a lot of work over the last 10 days, so Nick will be fine. He's fine." Jones and guard Jason Spitz were removed from the injury report and are presumably ready to play on Saturday. Wide receivers Jennings (groin) and Koren Robinson (knee) were limited in Thursday's practice. Woodson (toe/knee) was limited on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's practice. NICKEL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS: Even if Blackmon isn't able to play on Saturday, McCarthy said he is confident in the remaining players the Packers can use as nickel and dime cornerbacks, a group that includes Tramon Williams, Frank Walker and Jarrett Bush. "I feel good, and I can really attribute (that) to the number of players we've been playing over the last four to five weeks," McCarthy said. "We feel very comfortable with every one of those guys. Tramon has done an excellent job, Frank Walker has done a good job when he's in there. Jarrett Bush is healthy again, so he finally looks like himself here last week and throughout the practice this week. We feel very good about our secondary." FEELING FINE: After spending the week trying to get the NFL's youngest team ready for a playoff game, McCarthy said he was pleased with the way his players prepared. "They're excited," McCarthy said. "I think their confidence is real. To be honest with you, we're ready to play a game. It seems like a month, we haven't played a game in a month. They're tired of practicing, I'm tired of practicing them too. They're ready to go." McCarthy said he will tell the team on Friday to stick with what got them to their 13-3 record and the playoffs. "The biggest part of it is staying within who we are," McCarthy said. "We're not trying to create anything, and just the approach of taking this football game one play at a time. We can play this game anywhere. We're fortunate to be playing it here, at home, at Lambeau. But we need to go play Green Bay Packer football. That will be the primary focus." GREAT OUTDOORS: Packers kicker Mason Crosby and punter Jon Ryan went inside Lambeau Field to kick for the first time this week on Thursday and said the footing was great. "We've been going out sporadically throughout the season, just whenever we get the chance to," Crosby said. "It's been holding up well. It was good to get out there, get a feel and see what it's like. But game day, you don't know what's going to happen." (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |
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