"I'm
feeling good about Sunday," the Green Bay Packers tight end
said Friday.
The outlook
for some of Finley's teammates is not so rosy.
Green Bay
(2-3), which has been rocked by injuries early in the season, will
be missing another starter when it faces the unbeaten Texans (5-0)
on Sunday night in Houston. The Packers ruled out receiver Greg
Jennings on their injury report Friday.
Jennings, a
two-time Pro Bowl selection, has been sidelined since aggravating a
groin injury in Green Bay's win over New Orleans on Sept. 30.
"We feel
that he's probably at the spot where he was before he played against
the Saints," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "So we're
going to go probably another six days before we even attempt to test
him, is our plan."
Running back
Cedric Benson also won't play against the Texans. The Packers placed
him on the new injured reserve/designated to return list this week
after he injured his left foot in a loss at Indianapolis last
Sunday.
Two other key
players for Green Bay left that game with injuries: Finley
(shoulder) and nose tackle B.J. Raji (ankle). Finley and Raji are
questionable for the upcoming game.
Raji didn't
practice this week. McCarthy said Finley and tight end D.J.
Williams, who injured a hamstring in practice Wednesday and was out
Thursday, jumped in for the last half of practice Friday.
"We got 'em
as many reps as we possibly could, and we'll see how both of those
guys are in the morning," McCarthy said.
Williams also
is questionable for the matchup with the Texans.
The Packers
weren't in pads for practice Friday. But McCarthy indicated the
training staff tested Finley's injured right shoulder with contact
in rehab work using a blocking sled before Finley rejoined the team
for practice.
Finley said
this week he had a partially dislocated AC joint in the shoulder.
With regard to
getting Finley and also Williams possibly ready to play Sunday,
McCarthy said: "We've done the best we can as far as the
physical part."
"Now it's
just about seeing how they are in the morning treatment and possibly
maybe work both of those guys out before the game," McCarthy
added.
Finley
insisted earlier in the week he would play on Sunday, and remained
positive following practice Friday.
"I'm glad
I'm going to go, hopefully," Finley said. "Coach has got
me as questionable. I went from doubtful to questionable. So it's
looking good."
Finley doesn't
foresee having any limitations with the bum shoulder, though he
acknowledged his tolerance for contact in a game situation is an
unknown variable.
"Catching
the ball is the easy part with the shoulder," Finley said.
"Now it's just dipping (the shoulder) and taking that hit and
landing right. It's going to be a big challenge come Sunday, but I'm
up for it and ready to go."
Playing with a
little extra adrenaline also could help Finley, who is returning to
his native Texas.
Finley grew up
in a small town about 100 miles from Houston. He said he bought
tickets for more than 30 family members and friends to attend the
game.
"It's
going to be humid and hot, so I'll be revved up and ready to
go," Finley said. "I won't even think about the shoulder
unless it gets pounded pretty hard."
Green Bay
could be without one of its top run stoppers in the matchup with
Arian Foster. The Texans' star running back leads the league with
five rushing touchdowns and ranks second with 532 yards rushing.
McCarthy said
Raji was further behind Finley and Williams in his recovery from an
ankle sprain, but the Packers aren't ruling out the Pro Bowl
lineman.
"We've
had to prepare all week to go without B.J.," McCarthy said.
"That's the way you have to approach it from a coach's
perspective. (But) B.J. is definitely at the point in his career if
he's ready to go then we'll give him the opportunity to do
that."
NOTES: Packers
defensive coordinator Dom Capers said Friday CB Davon House is
"getting closer" to playing for the first time this
season. House, a starting candidate early in training camp,
dislocated a shoulder in the first preseason game. House has
practiced on a full-time basis the last two weeks but is
questionable to play Sunday. "Obviously, when he went down with
his injury, we thought a lot of him," Capers said. "But
like any young guy, when you miss time, it takes you time to get
back in that groove." . The Packers will play their first game
at Houston since they beat the Texans 16-13 on a last-second field
goal by Ryan Longwell in 2004. Capers was in his third season as the
first head coach for the expansion Texans that year. He isn't
getting sentimental about returning to Reliant Stadium on Sunday.
"I spent five years there, so obviously I spent a lot of time
in that stadium getting things started," Capers said. "But
once things are over, you kind of close the book on that chapter and
you move on. It means a lot more to me going down (there) trying to
get a win for the Green Bay Packers."
