Packers WR Jordy Nelson, RB Alex Green return to practice

Packers WR Jordy Nelson returned to practice Wednesday. (US Presswire)

Apart from the news that DB Charles Woodson had been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Vikings, the Packers actually had a fair bit of good injury news to announce Wednesday.

Five players, including three starters, who’ve been out returned to practice and one who was hurt in last week’s win over the Titans was also on the field.

WR Jordy Nelson (hamstring), RB Alex Green (concussion) and DE C.J. Wilson (knee) were back with their No. 1 units, and TE Tom Crabtree (hamstring) and DE Jerel Worthy (hamstring) also participated. CB Davon House, who left the game against Tennessee with a shoulder/hip injury, practiced.

The offense could get a big boost with the returns of Nelson (46 catches for 658 yards and six touchdowns) and Green (135 carries for 464 yards), who were full participants.

"Jordy Nelson looked good today," McCarthy said. "We ran a number of routes, routes on air, group-route emphasis as far as normal (down-and-distance), third down and no huddle. So I thought he looked good. Curious to see how he feels in the morning."

Nelson, the Packers’ leading receiver last season with 15 touchdowns, has missed the past three games. Since then, WR Greg Jennings has been reincorporated after missing two months with an abdominal injury. Randall Cobb and James Jones remain the top two pass-catchers this year.

"I don't think anybody just (comes) back seamlessly," McCarthy said of Nelson fitting back into the offense and avoiding another tweak to his twice-injured hamstring. "That's why there's always a difference between the real game and the practice environment. So it's always an adjustment to come back in and I think it's important for us to be smart with Jordy and I look for him to make the transition as smooth as possible."

McCarthy said Wilson, a valuable run-stopper whose presence would be a blessing Sunday against superhuman Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, has done everything he can to get back. Thursday will be a “big day for him,” when Wilson (20 tackles, 2.5 sacks) will be reevaluated and figured to go through the team’s final padded practice of the regular season.

Regarding Cobb, the team’s leading receiver and primary returner  who injured his ankle and knee on a punt return against the Titans, McCarthy said the plan is to keep him limited in practice until Friday, when he’ll go through a test.

"How he feels Saturday will determine his availability,” McCarthy said of the prospects of Cobb (80 catches for 954 yards and eight touchdowns) playing against the Vikings.

As for other notable injuries, McCarthy said embattled K Mason Crosby had flu-like symptoms, so he was sent home. Crosby (19 of 31 on field goals), who’s had the worst year of his career, made his two attempts in last week’s win, snapping a streak of nine games with at least one missed field goal.

McCarthy said RG Josh Sitton, who’s physical play has helped the run game improve in the past month, has a concussion and is going through the team and league-mandated protocol. McCarthy said he hoped Sitton would pass his cognition test and be cleared Thursday.

New starting C Evan Dietrich-Smith was listed with a knee injury, but McCarthy said it isn’t a concern. He was limited Wednesday. The veteran he replaced, 37-year-old C Jeff Saturday, was also limited with neck and shoulder soreness.

RB James Starks, who suffered a knee injury in the Dec. 2 game against the Vikings, did not participate. The Packers are hoping to get him back for the playoffs.