Packers Team Report

INSIDE SLANT

As much as the Packers are curious about whether the Detroit Lions will play heralded rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford(notes) and star wideout Calvin Johnson(notes) in the teams’ holiday matchup Thursday, the Lions are asking the same kind of questions about what Green Bay will do with its depleted defense.

“It’ll be interesting to see what they do,” Stafford said Tuesday.

Stafford was mum on his status for the game, which falls four days after he suffered a dislocated non-throwing shoulder. Yet, his inquisitiveness about the Packers’ defensive game plan—sans the Pro Bowl duo of cornerback Al Harris(notes) and linebacker Aaron Kampman(notes), who suffered season-ending knee injuries Sunday—suggests Stafford will try to play.

“I’m not sure if they’re just going to keep (Charles) Woodson in the slot or if they’ll move him out, or what they’ll do,” said Stafford, making reference to Green Bay’s cornerback situation. “They have a couple of options. We’ll just have to see what they do.”

Short of tipping his hand on the personnel changes being made in the secondary and at linebacker on this short week, Packers coach Mike McCarthy was adamant in saying it’s no time to simplify the defense.

“We’re game-planning to win the game,” McCarthy said. “I think there is two ways to approach a game: You go out and try to win it, or you play not to lose. We’re going to be aggressive, and we’re going to do what we feel our players can handle, and we’re going to play as aggressively as we possibly can.”

That’s music to the ears of the players who will have to overcome the significant losses of Harris and Kampman as the Packers (6-4), winners of two straight, try to stay in the NFC playoff hunt the last six weeks.

Tramon Williams(notes), who goes from nickel back to starter in Harris’ absence, said it’s nothing more than “just a challenge.”

Williams’ role won’t be much different anyhow. He estimated that he was on the field with the defense 70 percent of the time before Harris was hurt.

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ heavy reliance on sub packages, though, will now include one or two out of three cornerbacks on whom the jury is out. Jarrett Bush(notes) has the most experience of the trio but is a liability in coverage. Brandon Underwood(notes), a sixth-round draft pick this year, is green as a defender. Josh Bell(notes), signed as a free agent Tuesday, started a handful of games with the Denver Broncos as a rookie last season, but expecting him to learn and grasp a new system in only a couple days is unrealistic.

“Our coaches need to be creative,” McCarthy acknowledged.

Continuing to push the pedal to the metal with his exotic blitz calls seemingly would make the most sense for Capers. Going that route could mask the coverage deficiencies with Harris sidelined, especially if Johnson winds up playing Thursday despite his highly questionable status because of hand and knee injuries.

When asked Tuesday whether there’s any reason for Capers to back off on the heavy dose of blitzing of the past couple of games, safety Atari Bigby(notes) said, “I don’t think so. It’s been working, so I hope not.”

The Lions, along with the rest of the outside world, will be left guessing until the game starts.

“It’s going to be one of those deals where you’ve got to figure it out, kind of get into the groove of the game and understand what they’re trying to do,” Stafford said.

Less fuzzy for the Packers is what they’ll do to fill the void at Kampman’s position of left outside linebacker.

Rookie Brad Jones(notes) took the lion’s share of the first-string reps in practice Tuesday and figures to make his second pro start. His first came two games ago when Kampman was out with a concussion, and Jones turned in an encouraging performance in the win over the Dallas Cowboys.

“I have all the confidence in the world in our football team, specifically because (many of) these guys have been here since March (participating in the offseason program),” McCarthy said. “A lot of these players, they have been here and they’re ready to go and they need to take advantage of their opportunity.”

Series History:   159th regular-season meeting. Packers lead series, 87-64-7. Green Bay is aiming to sweep the season series against its NFC North rival for the fourth straight year, a feat attained by the Packers against the Lions only one other time, from 1941 to ’44. Green Bay shut out Detroit 26-0 on Oct. 18 at Lambeau Field this season. The Packers’ eight-game winning series streak, which started with a 16-13 overtime win at Green Bay in 2005, is the longest in the series by either team since the Lions won 11 in a row from 1949 to ’54.

NOTES, QUOTES

—The Packers began to address the season-ending loss of Pro Bowl cornerback Al Harris to a knee injury incurred in Sunday’s win over the 49ers by signing free agent Josh Bell on Tuesday.

The 5-foot-11, 177-pound Bell, a second-year player, is fully recovered from a knee injury he sustained late in the preseason with Denver. The Broncos subsequently cut him after reaching an injury settlement.

Bell, who was originally signed by the Chargers as an undrafted rookie in 2008, played in nine games with five starts for the Broncos last season. He had 43 tackles and four pass breakups.

Bell practiced Tuesday, and coach Mike McCarthy thinks Bell could contribute in some fashion in the game Thursday at Detroit.

“Josh has been impressive just in the short time he’s been here,” McCarthy said. “He’s definitely an option to play.”

The addition of Bell still leaves the Packers with two spots to fill on their 53-man roster.

• With nickel back Tramon Williams thrust into a full-time role with Harris out, the Packers could back off on using him to return punts.

McCarthy said receiver Jordy Nelson(notes), who re-assumed the kickoff-return duties in the last game, and cornerback Charles Woodson(notes) are the other alternatives on punt returns.

• The Packers went into Sunday’s game with 52 players. They were down to 50 when Harris and linebacker Aaron Kampman, who also suffered a torn ACL in the game, were ruled out for the rest of the season.

Whether the Packers officially put Harris and Kampman on injured reserve and fill the two spots before Thursday’s game remains to be seen.

“We’re looking at all of our options,” McCarthy said. “We have a full practice squad, so that’s definitely something you can look at also.”

• The Packers will be playing the Lions on Thanksgiving Day for the fourth time this decade. Green Bay has won two of the previous three meetings, including 37-26 in 2007 in the NFC North rivals’ most recent holiday clash.

• The Packers have a 12-18-2 record in Thanksgiving games.

By The Numbers:   15.1—Average point differential in the Packers’ 7-0 record against the Lions since Mike McCarthy’s first season as Green Bay’s head coach in 2006.

Quote To Note:   “It’s a steppingstone. We can take this and progress because we’re going to have to be able to run down the stretch here. There’s no doubt about it. To make a playoff run, we’re going to have to keep this run game going. It was definitely a good starting point.”—Fullback John Kuhn(notes) on the Packers’ rushing for 158 yards, their second-highest output of the season, in a 30-24 win over San Francisco on Sunday.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

A short week could result in yet another lineup change on the offensive line.

C Scott Wells(notes) suffered a knee injury in the 30-24 win over the 49ers on Sunday. Although Wells held up for the entire game, the injury is significant enough that he didn’t practice Tuesday and appears questionable at best to play Thursday at Detroit.

Undrafted rookie Evan Dietrich-Smith(notes) handled the first-string reps at center Tuesday, the only practice day devoted to the upcoming game. The Packers will have a walkthrough Wednesday morning before leaving for Detroit in the afternoon.

If Wells can’t go Thursday, Dietrich-Smith would become the third starter at center this season. LG Daryn Colledge(notes) is the emergency backup at center.

The Packers have used six different starting combinations on the line in the first 10 games.

Player Notes  

• RB Ryan Grant(notes) appears on the injury report this week for an unspecified neck injury that cropped up following the victory over the 49ers on Sunday. Grant went through the team’s full practice Tuesday and should be OK to handle the bulk of the carries against the Lions on Thursday.

• CB Charles Woodson practiced on a limited basis Tuesday because of a lingering hip injury, but it won’t keep the veteran leader from playing in the upcoming game.

• LT Chad Clifton(notes) had limited work in practice Tuesday because of some residual knee soreness, but he’s expected to be fine to make the start Thursday.

• RG Josh Sitton(notes) emerged from the last game with back soreness, but he should be ready to make the start Thursday after going through the full practice.

• DE Cullen Jenkins(notes) figures to be good to take his starting spot in the upcoming game after he practiced in full Tuesday. Jenkins has been nursing an ankle injury the last few weeks.

• DE Johnny Jolly(notes) should be OK to make the start against the Lions, despite having some back troubles coming out of the last game. Jolly was a full participant Tuesday.

• RB Ahman Green(notes) continues to be plagued by a groin strain, which he sustained in practice last week. He was out Tuesday, which could mean a second straight game of not playing.

Game Plan:   On the heels of “Fake-Gate,” as Browns coach Eric Mangini accused the Lions of feigning injuries in the teams’ contest Sunday, a game of cat-and-mouse ensued in the days leading up to Thursday’s matchup between the Packers and the Lions. The vibes emanating from Detroit are that the injured duo of QB Matthew Stafford and star WR Calvin Johnson won’t play, but the Packers are thinking otherwise. Meanwhile, Green Bay is leaving the Lions guessing on what it has up its sleeve for replacing the Pro Bowl tandem of CB Al Harris and LB Aaron Kampman, who suffered season-ending knee injuries Sunday.

There is a drop-off in the secondary without Harris on the field—either untested rookie Brandon Underwood or mistake-prone Jarrett Bush will be cast in the important nickel role with Tramon Williams elevated to starter—but the Packers feel they won’t have to tone down an aggressive, blitzing attack that has paid dividends in the last two games.

Whether it’s rookie Stafford with a bad non-throwing shoulder or the aging Daunte Culpepper(notes) at quarterback for Detroit, figure the Packers defense to turn up the heat inside Ford Field. Green Bay had five sacks and limited the Lions to all of 149 total yards in a 26-0 win Oct. 18.

Aaron Rodgers(notes) had his way in the same game against Detroit’s porous pass defense, throwing for 358 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-37 accuracy. Head coach/play-caller Mike McCarthy would like to build on the 158-yard rushing day in Sunday’s win over the 49ers, but making liberal use of the pass via quick, short strikes on a fast track against a short-handed secondary will be appealing.

Matchups To Watch:   Packers WR Greg Jennings(notes) vs. Lions secondary. A return to his home state of Michigan tends to bring out prolific performances by Jennings, a Kalamazoo native and product of Western Michigan. Jennings has 14 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns in three games against the Lions at Ford Field. On Thanksgiving Day two years ago, Jennings caught two touchdown passes in the Packers’ win over the Lions. He had six catches for a career-high 167 yards in last year’s visit to Detroit. Reprising his role as football’s version of the “Motor City Madman” seems doable. The Lions are battered in the secondary, especially at safety, a position utilized greatly by opponents in rolling double coverage to Jennings this season. A previously frustrated Jennings, who is smiling these days with the Packers going back to a short passing attack the last couple of games, could be headed toward a big second half of the season. He busted out with five catches for 126 yards, including a 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown, in the win over the 49ers on Sunday.

Packers NT Ryan Pickett(notes) vs. Lions C Dominic Raiola(notes). Detroit’s stunning comeback victory over the Browns on Sunday featured a strong performance by Raiola against Pro Bowl DT Shaun Rogers(notes). Like Rogers, Pickett is the anchor of the line in a 3-4 defensive scheme. Pickett doesn’t have the gaudy stats this season, but he’s been solid in taking care of the dirty work his role entails. He’s been as effective stopping the run as he has in taking on multiple blockers to open creases for the likes of ILBs Nick Barnett(notes) and A.J. Hawk(notes) and S Nick Collins(notes) to blitz on passing downs.

Injury Impact:   The season-ending knee injuries sustained by CB Al Harris and LB Aaron Kampman on Sunday will mean two new starters for the Packers as they make the quick turnaround to play Thursday at Detroit. Nickel back Tramon Williams, whom the team considers a starter anyway given the frequency it employs its sub packages in most games, will have a full-time role in taking over for Harris. Still to be determined is whether the Packers turn to untested rookie Brandon Underwood, a shaky Jarrett Bush or newly signed Josh Bell to work as the fifth defensive back. Rookie Brad Jones probably will get the nod over Brady Poppinga(notes) and Jeremy Thompson(notes) to replace Kampman at left outside linebacker. Jones has one start under his belt, two games ago when Kampman was out with a concussion. … The Packers could have another lineup shakeup on their ever-changing offensive line Thursday. C Scott Wells, who managed to play Sunday after suffering a concussion in practice last week, emerged from the game with a knee injury. Wells didn’t practice Tuesday, leaving his status in question. Undrafted rookie Evan Dietrich-Smith would be the starting replacement.