Green Bay Breno Giacomini just might stay around for a while longer.
Thought to have at least one foot out the door after two unproductive seasons (one game played on special teams), Giacomini got a boost of confidence from his coach Wednesday.
"He's obviously here for a reason," Mike McCarthy said. "If you look at the path of offensive linemen, especially someone making the transition from tight end to offensive tackle, it does take some time.
"He's going to compete for that right tackle position."
Even Giacomini, a fifth-round pick in 2008, wasn't ready to say he'll be going toe to toe with veteran Mark Tauscher for the starting spot.
"You know what, that's a tough question to answer," Giacomini said. "Tausch has been here 11 years. What I think is going on is they're just trying to get me better. Tausch is a great player, and I'm just going to try to follow his steps so I'm just going to keep getting better every day."
But that McCarthy said Giacomini was on the team for a reason certainly meant something, because at times that was in question.
After only playing one full college season at tackle, Giacomini was active for just two games as a rookie. Off-season ankle surgery kept him out until training camp in '09, and he was only active for one game.
Even with all the struggles the Packers had at right tackle, the Packers apparently didn't have enough confidence in Giacomini to even let him be a backup for more than one game.
"I never thought (the Packers didn't believe in me), I just came to work every day and tried to get better and if my name was called, my name was called," Giacomini said. "But it didn't happen that way, so I just came and tried to get the defense better on the scout look. I don't have a problem with that at all."
Giacomini, who got a few first-team reps in place of Tauscher on Wednesday, does think he's made enough strides to contribute this season even with T.J. Lang and Marshall Newhouse also able to play right tackle.
"I feel like I've gained a lot more muscle memory being a tackle, and I feel like I'm playing lower this year," Giacomini said. "I just feel better as a whole tackle."
Said McCarthy: "He had some untimely injuries in the past, but he's doing very well. He's a very powerful man. I think his foot speed has definitely increased. You can see that in the drill work."
Giacomini certainly has fire. He showed that by slugging linebacker Brad Jones after a play and knocking his helmet to the ground.
"We were just being physical, and sometimes that happens, you know what I mean?" Giacomini said. "I kind of like Brad, so it was nothing against him."
Havner anxious to return: Spencer Havner is close to returning to the field after suffering a broken scapula in an off-season motorcycle accident that led to the tight end being arrested on the suspicion of DUI.
"Yeah, I wished it didn't happen, but it's something I have to go through and everything is getting back to normal," Havner said. "It's not part of who I am and my character, and I've never been involved in anything like that in the past and will try my hardest not to in the future. And of course, I don't want to risk something this special, and I realize that's what happened."
Havner, who has not been charged, said he isn't worried about his place on the team after the Packers drafted Andrew Quarless, a fourth tight end.
"I'm just concentrating on getting back when I'm on the field, and I think what I bring to the team will speak for itself," said Havner, who tied for fourth on the team last season with four touchdowns on his 10 receptions. "I feel great. I feel near 100%, ready to go. I'd definitely like to move on. I just need to get back to it."
Going slow:Donald Driver and Ryan Pickett joined the list of players watching practice, but both insisted it was just for rest and they will be back soon.
Cullen Jenkins switched to left end and Jarius Wynn was on the right side with Pickett out. Patrick Williams got a lot more playing time in place of Driver.
End Justin Harrell also sat out as the Packers bring him back slowly from back woes.
Linebacker Nick Barnett (knee), cornerbacks Charles Woodson (absent), Al Harris (knee) and Will Blackmon (knee), safety Derrick Martin (ankle), guard Jason Spitz (back) and Lang (wrist) continued to be out.
Rookie running back James Starks missed his second straight practice after tweaking his hamstring May 20.
"It's getting a lot better, so I'll probably be practicing tomorrow," Starks said.
Short yardage: Rookie safety Morgan Burnett had an impressive practice with an interception and nearly about three more. "Been very impressed with Morgan," McCarthy said. "He's done a very good job, particularly communicating for a young safety." . . .
McCarthy said the team signed quarterback Graham Harrell and released Chris Pizzotti because the Packers think Harrell "is someone who has a chance to be a quarterback in the National Football League. . . . We really felt Graham came in and had a heck of a workout. I was impressed with his velocity. That's something that was probably a little in question coming out of college in my opinion." . . .
Former Packers center Mike Flanagan has joined the team as a coaching intern.