Charlie Peprah saw his strong start in training camp ruined by a hamstring injury.
However, with starting safety Atari Bigby and top backup Aaron Rouse both likely to miss Sunday's game against Atlanta because of injuries, Peprah probably will be in the starting lineup at safety along with Nick Collins.
Peprah has not started a game in his three-year NFL career. Even making the roster this year is a testament to how well he played the first week-plus of training camp, because the hamstring injury sidelined him for all four preseason games. Lower-roster players rarely make the team if they miss that much time in training camp, but Peprah won a spot as the No. 4 safety and probably is the smoothest athlete among the Packers' four safeties.
"He's been here three years now, so he has a complete understanding of the system," coach Mike McCarthy said. "I have confidence in all those guys. I think we've shown that with the ability to put Aaron Rouse in there, and we look at Charlie the same way."
Bigby has missed the last two games because of a hamstring injury and after not practicing Friday, is a likely scratch for this week. McCarthy listed him and Rouse (knee) as doubtful (25 percent chance of playing) on the Packers' official injury report Friday.
If neither Bigby nor Rouse suits up, cornerback Jarrett Bush will be the No. 3 safety Bush has worked there occasionally this year, and his future might even be at that position.
"Everyone wants to start in the National Football League," Peprah said. "More important, I just want to play a football game and win."
Hawk hurting
[ul]The Packers' run defense will take another big blow this week if linebacker A.J. Hawk can't play Sunday because of his strained groin.
Hawk had limited participation in practice Wednesday and Thursday, but on Friday, he didn't practice at all because of soreness from his rehabilitation work. The Packers already lost starting defensive end Cullen Jenkins for the season because of the pectoral injury he sustained against Tampa Bay last Sunday, and taking Hawk off the field will be a big loss against an Atlanta team that features the NFL's leading rusher in Michael Turner (105.5 yards a game).
McCarthy listed Hawk as questionable (50 percent chance of playing) and said he will wait until Sunday morning to decide whether the linebacker will play. If Hawk can't play, Brandon Chillar most likely would replace him at weak-side linebacker, though second-year pro Desmond Bishop took some snaps in that role after Hawk was injured against Tampa Bay.[/ul]
Harris update
[ul]McCarthy said cornerback Al Harris is feeling well and working out almost two weeks after tearing his spleen against Dallas on Sept. 21.
Harris had to go on total rest last week, then began light, low-impact workouts this week. In two or three weeks, he'll undergo another CT scan to determine whether and when he can return this season.
McCarthy said he had a long conversation with Harris on Friday.
"He's a little bit frustrated, just with the type of injury," McCarthy said. "It's not something you can just go out and test (physically). He feels like he's making progress, he's not feeling any pain and so forth. But there's a protocol that our doctors are trying to follow, and the next step is to take that scan, which will be in a couple weeks. That's really the next step, and he's just been going through conditioning and just following the regimen the training staff has him on."[/ul]
Other injuries
[ul]Aside from Bigby and Rouse, the Packers listed three players as doubtful fullback Korey Hall (knee), defensive end Jason Hunter (hamstring) and halfback Kregg Lumpkin (hamstring).
Atlanta listed no players as out or doubtful but had three starters as questionable: defensive tackle Grady Jackson (knee), left tackle Sam Baker (illness after sustaining a concussion two weeks ago) and safety Lawyer Milloy (rib).
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