GREEN BAY — Sean Richardson and Jerel Worthy both got the news they were hoping for Saturday, as the Green Bay Packers activated both players from the physically unable to perform list. Both players could be active for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings as well.
To make room for them on the 53-man roster, cornerbacks Casey Hayward (hamstring) and James Nixon (knee) were placed on season-ending injured reserve.
The Packers announced the moves Saturday afternoon.
"It's great to have them on the field. These guys haven't been on the field for quite some time. I know it was refreshing for them both," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said of the pair when they began practicing. "They're excited. We've just got to go through these couple of weeks and make sure they're right. This is clearly a medical hurdle that both these guys can get over. They were good young players the last time they were on the field for us. I'm hopeful that we can get through this process."
Saturday, they officially did.
Worthy, a defensive end who was a second-round pick from Michigan State a year ago, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the regular-season finale at Minnesota last year and underwent surgery in January. Worthy saw action in 14 games last season, with four starts, and registered 23 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
"Long time coming," Worth said last week. "It was a long road, because days you always feel like you're making strides, sometimes you may break even for that day, sometimes you may not be able to push through for that day. But you just got to stick with it. It's a long process and it's something that teaches you to really appreciate the position you are in as a player and be grateful for being at this level."
Richardson, a safety who made the roster as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Vanderbilt last season, suffered a neck injury that required single-spinal fusion surgery of the C5 and C6 vertebrae. The Packers sent him to five specialists and all five doctors cleared him to return to the field. Richardson saw action in five games last season and recorded one tackle on defense and four more on special teams.
"It's a blessing. It's been a long journey," Richardson said. "To finally get back out there, it felt like I was a kid again. Guys were asking me how I felt. I said I felt like a kid at a candy store. It was great.
"I always kept faith and stayed positive. Couldn't have done it without the support I had. It's a great feeling. It's great to be back."
Hayward played in just three games (hamstring) after finishing third in the NFL defensive rookie of the year voting last year. He originally injured his hamstring the week before training camp opened, causing him to miss most of camp. He returned in time for the Aug. 23 preseason game against Seattle and promptly reinjured the hamstring. He returned against Minnesota on Oct. 27 but injured the hamstring again against Philadelphia on Nov. 11.
Hayward finished the season with seven tackles and one pass breakup.
Nixon, who was slowed by a knee injury throughout training camp, opened the season on the practice squad but was promoted to the 53-man roster on Oct. 7. He left last Sunday's game at the New York Giants with a knee injury.
The Packers have now activated three of the four players who opened the season on the PUP list, having brought 2011 first-round pick Derek Sherrod onto the 53-man roster on Nov. 5. Rookie offensive lineman JC Tretter started practicing this week after suffering a broken ankle in the first organized team activity practice of the offseason in May.
Jason Wilde wrote: