GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Yes, the thought occurred to Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in recent weeks: Could I get cut?

The veteran pass rush specialist sat out most of training camp with nagging soreness in his knee, making his spot on the team's final roster less secure than it had been in previous years.

But, as you might expect from a player known for wearing his religious beliefs on his sleeve, Gbaja-Biamila didn't let it get to him.

"I was just trying to get ready for whatever," Gbaja-Biamila said. "This is not like a major knee surgery or anything. I was just trying to get it right. Maybe (I was) getting frustrated because it's taking longer than I thought it would be and things of that nature. But like I said, I always feel like I'm highly favored, God loves me, and he's going to give me the best situation."

Gbaja-Biamila survived the Packers' final round of cuts, and was able to get through a full practice Thursday with no apparent lingering pain -- signs that he'll be available for Monday night's season opener against Minnesota.

"I look forward to coming to play," Gbaja-Biamila said. "We're just taking it day-to-day. But it felt good today. Great practice, great finish."

Gbaja-Biamila has 74 career sacks in eight seasons with the Packers, making him the franchise's all-time leader. Speed and quickness are the most critical parts of Gbaja-Biamila's game, and he said he felt like they were still present during Thursday's practice.

"I feel like everything is there," Gbaja-Biamila said.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy agreed.

"I thought he practiced extremely well earlier in the week and I thought he looked very explosive out there today," McCarthy said. "Now, we haven't watched the film yet, but just standing behind the quarterback in the opponent work, he was definitely getting off the ball and applying pressure like he normally does."

Gbaja-Biamila figures he's in line for the best season of his career. But even if he had been cut, he says he would have thanked Packers general manager Ted Thompson.

"If they ever released me, I'd be the first guy to go to Ted Thompson and say, 'Hey, thank you for the opportunity. It's been an honor and a privilege,' and move forward," Gbaja-Biamila said. "He's doing a great job. I'm a big supporter of what Ted is doing here. He's a good man. But you can't play football forever. It's a blessing that I played even this long. It's a privilege and it's an honor. I'm just trying to take advantage of every situation."

------

UNDERDOGS?: The Green Bay Packers went 13-3 and got within an overtime field goal of the Super Bowl last season. But without Brett Favre, there doesn't seem to be much national buzz about the Packers' chances this season.

Linebacker Nick Barnett certainly has noticed, but said he doesn't mind the extra motivation.

"We can't think about, we're the division champs," Barnett said. "Of course, we have that swagger. We have that confidence. But last year's last year and this year's this year. We've got a lot to prove. No one's talking about us winning the Super Bowl. No one's even talking about us winning the division. So we have a lot, a lot, to prove."

------

NOTES: The Packers listed 12 players on their injury report Thursday: S Atari Bigby (ankle, limited participation in practice), OT Chad Clifton (knees/chest, limited), Gbaja-Biamila (full participation), RB Ryan Grant (hamstring, full participation), LB A.J. Hawk (chest, limited), WR James Jones (knee, did not participate), S Charlie Peprah (hamstring, limited), G Josh Sitton (knee, out), DE Jeremy Thompson (groin, limited), C Scott Wells (back, did not participate), LB Tracy White (ankle, limited) and CB Charles Woodson (general soreness, limited participation). ... McCarthy said the team "may have a handle" on Wells' lower back injury, but "it could be one day or it could be a couple of weeks" before he returns. ... McCarthy said Clifton was held out as a precaution, and would likely be limited to working out Friday before returning to practice Saturday.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)