GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Seventh-round pick Matt Flynn has beaten out second-round pick Brian Brohm for the Green Bay Packers' backup quarterback job behind starter Aaron Rodgers, coach Mike McCarthy said after practice Monday.

"We just felt Matt was a little more productive than Brian in the preseason, but it's a competition that will continue," McCarthy said. "Matt has to hold the spot, and Brian will have an opportunity to get the spot back."

For the preseason, Flynn completed 27 of 42 passes (64.3 percent) for 209 yards, with three touchdowns, no interceptions and five sacks for a rating of 100.2. Brohm was 19 for 42 (45.2 percent) for 155 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and four sacks for a 45.2 rating.

"I like the way (Flynn) makes plays with his feet. He can get you out of a bad play," McCarthy said. "(He's) instinctive, very calm, his disposition is excellent. (He has good) pocket awareness and is comfortable in the pocket. I've been impressed with him so far."

Asked if it's good for Brohm to take a step back, McCarthy replied, "I don't really look at it that way, and I expressed that to Brian. ... Whatever the statistics are or whatever the opinions are, there's improvement in Brian Brohm's play as he's moved through the preseason. For as ugly as some situations he was in (during) the Tennessee game, frankly I probably put him in some spots trying to call some plays for the quarterback as opposed to calling plays for who was on the field. That did not help."

Pickett, Wells return: Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, who missed all of training camp with a hamstring injury, practiced for the first time and said he will play in next Monday night's regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field.

"I felt pretty good. Getting back into the routine, I felt comfortable out there," Pickett said. "Everything went well today, and we'll keep building up until Monday."

Center Scott Wells (lower back) was also back in action, so Jason Spitz shifted back to right guard. Daryn Colledge worked some at left guard but with left tackle Chad Clifton sitting out team drills, Colledge worked in Clifton's place while Allen Barbre worked at left guard.

Colledge, who is listed as the starter at left guard on the unofficial depth chart, said the coaches "haven't announced the lineup to us. I'm practicing at both positions right now and I'm trying to get better at both of 'em. Nobody's told me I'm the guy (at left guard) yet."

Linebacker A.J. Hawk (chest), wide receiver James Jones (right knee), guard Josh Sitton (left knee), safety Charlie Peprah (hamstring), linebacker Tracy White (ankle) and defensive end Jeremy Thompson (unknown) did not practice. Jones and Sitton were both wearing braces.

Asked what his plan is for the injured group, McCarthy said many of them won't practice until later in the week. The Packers practice Tuesday, have off Wednesday, then practice Thursday through Saturday.

Hodge released: Linebacker Abdul Hodge, who led the team in tackles (20) in the preseason, was a surprise cut to make room for new long-snapper Brett Goode. General manager Ted Thompson said Hodge was among the players the personnel staff made calls on in search of a trading partner for Hodge but came up empty.

Asked if he ever intended to carry seven linebackers on the roster, Thompson replied, "Sure. But at the end of the day, after a couple of days extra time to kind of think it out, we just felt like this was probably the best way to go."

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