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Green
Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson (21) returns an
interception 41-yards for a touchdown as Detroit Lions
players look on in the fourth quarter of an NFL football
game in Detroit. Woodson had two interceptions in the fourth
quarter in the Packers 48-25 win.
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GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers
should be in good shape for their Sunday night game against Dallas,
listing running back Ryan Grant and cornerback Charles Woodson as
probable on the injury report.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said
after practice Friday that Grant and Woodson would play Sunday.
Grant went through the full practice after being off the field most
of the week to allow extra recovery for a sore hamstring that has
bothered him since early in the preseason.
"He looked good," McCarthy
said. "I thought he had more bounce in his step. I thought he
looked better this week than last week."
Woodson didn't practice the entire
week to rest a broken right toe, but he was on a similar schedule
last week and responded with one of the best performances of his
11-year pro career. Woodson intercepted two passes late in the game,
returning the second for a touchdown to seal the Packers' 48-25 win
at Detroit.
"I'd be surprised if he doesn't
(play Sunday)," McCarthy said.
McCarthy added he's never coached a
player who had the resilience of Woodson to miss significant time in
practice because of injury and manage to play so well.
"To do it off of the film study
and the meetings and the walkthroughs and things like that, I
haven't seen anybody perform at that level," McCarthy said.
"He's also experienced, too. He has a ton of experience and is
a very smart football player. But, the ability to pull it all
together and deal with the pain threshold and things like that, I
think it's very unique what he's been able to do."
Woodson didn't play in the Packers'
late-season loss at Dallas last year after injuring a different toe
in the previous game.
The Cowboys exploited the
Woodson-less secondary. Terrell Owens had seven catches for 156
yards and a touchdown. Patrick Crayton caught two touchdown passes.
Tight end Jason Witten had six receptions.
The Packers will again be a starter
down in the secondary Sunday. Safety Atari Bigby is their only
player listed as out for the game (strained hamstring).
Aaron Rouse will start in Bigby's
spot. McCarthy gave Rouse a vote of confidence after the second-year
player had a couple of breakdowns in pass coverage after replacing
Bigby in the second half last Sunday.
"The big thing for young players
is to get those quality reps, whether it's during the week and
ultimately in the game," McCarthy said. "With (Rouse's)
ability to get the first-unit reps this week, that in itself will
really help him.
"The one thing about Aaron is
he's been very productive with the opportunities he's had, so we
have full confidence in him."
McCarthy indicated center Scott Wells
would be available in some capacity for the first time this season.
Wells practiced the last three days after being out for two weeks
because of a chronic back injury.
"I thought Scott had a very good
week," McCarthy said. "He looked like his old self out
there today. He came out of Wednesday and Thursday's practices
pain-free. We'll see how Scott is in the morning, and we'll move
forward accordingly."
McCarthy, who first wanted to meet
with his assistants and the medical staff, hasn't decided whether to
give Wells his starting job back right away.
"It's either start him, or he'll
be the backup. Those are the two options," McCarthy said.
If Wells is in the starting lineup
Sunday, Jason Spitz would move from center to right guard, where
Tony Moll played the first two games.
Spitz said Friday he had a 50-50
split of reps at center and right guard in practice this week.
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