Green Bay Packers cornerback Pat Lee can recite the words of Psalm 3 from memory.

His mother often read him that passage, and Lee took it to heart.

Two months ago Lee had the first three verses tattooed on his chest to serve as a reminder: I have so many enemies, so many are against me but you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

Those are words Lee lives by after two difficult seasons in which he has spent more time on the injured list than the football field.

After failing to live up to the high expectations that accompany a second-round draft choice, Lee is relying on faith to handle adversity.

Some would argue the Packers, too, are leaning on faith when it comes to their unsettled cornerback situation.

Even though Al Harris is coming off a severe knee injury, Tramon Williams has contract issues, and Lee and second-year player Brandon Underwood have little NFL experience, the Packers didnt draft a cornerback and felt secure enough to move Will Blackmon to safety.

Charles Woodson is the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, but he cant play cornerback by himself. At some point, someone else will have to step forward. The Packers apparently believe Lee and Underwood are ready to do that.

Coach Mike McCarthy called Underwood the most improved second-year player on the team. I think he's really matured in the weight room, said McCarthy. He looks very good right now.

McCarthy heaped praise on Lee as well. Every time he gets on the field, he makes plays, McCarthy said. He has this injury hurdle that hopefully he has cleared. I'm excited about his participation and what he has shown so far in the OTAs.

With the top three cornerbacks sitting out, Lee and Underwood lined up as the starters during the Packers open practice on Wednesday. Both have flashed potential, and both have a sense that the time to produce is now.

For them not to take a corner in the draft, that just puts a big sense of responsibility on all the guys on the roster and whats expected of us now, said Underwood, a 2009 sixth-round draft choice.

Lee has played in just five games over the past two years, and his sense of urgency is so great that he believes his job is on the line.

I have a lot to prove, said Lee. I feel like this is it for me if I dont.

The memories of the Packers getting torched by high-caliber quarterbacks like Brett Favre, Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger last season are still fresh. No one wants to go back there, but thats where the Packers are headed if they dont get some help in their secondary.

Underwood said some of his improvement stems from valuable lessons he learned from Woodson and Harris.

Its about being a professional, Underwood said.

You have so much more down time. Its all about what you do with your down time.

Underwood has been spending a lot of his time in the weight room and paying more attention to small details like eating right and getting enough sleep.

Your body is how you get paid, so you have to take care of your body and all the little things that go with it, he said.

Lee is also tending to details like learning the playbook inside and out. Im always trying to be prepared for everything, he said.

Ultimately, he knows all the knowledge in the world wont matter if he cant stay healthy. Ive got to show what I can do, said Lee.

Despite the uncertainty, cornerback depth does not appear to be a concern either in the Packers front office or on the field.

Said Underwood: It could be one of our strengths this year.

Said Lee: Every guy out here is good. Well be all right.

Anything seems possible with a little faith.