Name Position Injury Fri. Game Status
Donald Driver WR Thumb LP Probable
T.J. Lang G/T Ankle LP Questionable
Terrell Manning LB Shoulder LP Questionable
Clay Matthews OLB Hamstring DNP Out
Mike Neal DE Shoulder DNP Doubtful
Jordy Nelson WR Hamstring DNP Out
Jeff Saturday C Foot LP Probable
Sam Shields CB Ankle FP Probable
James Starks RB Knee DNP Out
C.J. Wilson DE Knee DNP Out
Charles Woodson DB Collarbone LP Out
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was that T.J. Lang was back at practice and is now listed as "Questionable." Now the Packers are saying that Lang’s participation in the practice was "very limited" and that his participation is a game-time decision. The thing is though, even if Lang is activated don’t expect him to be the starter. The reports coming out of 1265 suggest that even if Lang is activated he would be an emergency backup only. If Lang is unavailable the tea leaves suggest that the Packers may make some last minute roster moves in order to promote Andrew Datko to the roster to add some depth as well.
The best advice I can give you though is to prepare yourself to watch Evan Dietrich-Smith and Don Barclay on Sunday for most of the game. It will probably get a little dicey at times watching these two try and block, but at least then we fans will get a real sense of which one of these two will become the bigger liability. That way when Lang does come back we will have a good sense which one should be sent back to the bench.
Another piece of good news is that Sam Shields is listed as probable, meaning that this will mark his return to action for the Packers. Where he fits in and how many defensive pass interference calls he will receive are yet to be determined, but at least we know that the cornerback unit will be crazy deep for this Sunday’s game.
For those worried about Mike Neal it appears the shoulder injury is not as bad as feared earlier in the week. Even though he did not practice he is listed as "doubtful" instead of just out. Hopefully he should only miss this week with the current shoulder issue.
The last bit of good news to pass along is that we finally know when the Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews injury hiatus will end. The bad news is that it will probably be next week. Even though Woodson was a participant in practice this week the Packers are holding him out one more week to be sure. It seems the Packers wanted him in practice now in order to see how his body would hold up wearing shoulder pads again. This couldn't be done next week because the Packers are just about out of their allotment of padded practices for the year and next week they are in shells most of the week.
The Lions haven’t listed any players out, and the most injured players are all listed as questionable. Here is their chart:
Name Position Injury Fri. Game Status
Jeff Backus T Hamstring LP Questionable
Gosder Cherilus T Knees LP Questionable
Louis Delmas S Knee DNP Questionable
Nick Fairley DT Quadriep LP Questionable
Chris Houston CB Ankle LP Questionable
Lawrence Jackson DE Concussion FP Probable
Jacob Lacey CB Foot / Achilles LP Questionable
Kassim Osgood WR Finger FP Probable
Corey Williams DT Knee DNP Questionable
Ashlee Palmer LB Thumb FP Probable
For those who were crossing their fingers to see Nick Fairley listed as "Out" you are probably a bit disappointed. Fairly did return to practice on Friday and is listed as questionable for the game. Also a bit of a surprise is that Louis Delmas did not practice on Friday, it appears as quickly as he returned to practice he then returned to not being at practice. Delams and Chris Houston are both listed as questionable for the game on Sunday.