The Packer Pundit

Spitz healthy, but Coston will start
By Tom Pelissero
greenbaypressgazette.com
Jason Spitz isn’t on the Green Bay Packers’ injury report this week. Coach Mike McCarthy said today the second-year pro “looks like he’s back to full.” But the man who replaced Spitz when he left the field because of a strained calf in Week 1, Junius Coston, apparently has filled in well enough that he won’t relinquish the starting job. “Juice is still starting at right guard, yes,” McCarthy said. Coston hasn’t been flawless — his false start on first-and-goal at San Diego’s 1-yard line in Sunday’s 31-24 win could have cost the Packers, who trailed 21-17 at the time. But the third-year pro has impressed with his athleticism and ability to block beyond the line of scrimmage. “His body type is really a player that could probably play in any scheme,” McCarthy said of Coston, the same height but a little heavier than Spitz at 6-foot-3, 313 pounds. “He’s athletic. He’s powerful. He has a good frame to carry more weight and strength as he matures. So, he’s a young man that we’ve been excited about since my time here, and he’s only going to get better.” Spitz — a third-round pick who started 13 games as a rookie last season — could regain a starting role later this season if Coston or left guard Daryn Colledge struggles. For now, though, he’s merely an experienced backup at guard and center.

The runaround
Vernand Morency appears closer than ever to returning to action, but fellow running back Brandon Jackson’s status for Sunday’s game at Minnesota is in doubt. Jackson sustained a shin strain against San Diego, and the injury flared up on him during Wednesday’s practice, McCarthy said. The rookie second-round draft pick was in pads but didn’t practice today before leaving for rehabilitation about 20 minutes into the workout. McCarthy said he wasn’t sure whether Jackson would practice today. If the injury is enough to keep Jackson out Sunday, it might save Packers coaches a difficult decision, because all indications are Morency is ready to return from the right knee strain that benched him two months ago today. “I’m hopeful Vernand can go,” McCarthy said. “He looked good two days in a row. I think he’s put together back-to-back practices, where in the past he’s been frustrated the day after of a hard practice because of the way he feels.” If Morency and Jackson are healthy enough to play, it’s possible the Packers would deactivate Ryan Grant or rookie DeShawn Wynn, who will be replaced as the secondary kick returner this week by Shaun Bodiford.

More injuries
Receiver Greg Jennings, who scored the go-ahead touchdown on Sunday after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury, did not practice. “That was really my call,” McCarthy said. “He was a little sore (Wednesday). Again, I’m trying not to get into this every-week situation with him, so we’re just being cautious. I anticipate him practicing (Friday).” Listed as limited were Morency, tackle Chad Clifton (knee), end Cullen Jenkins (ribs), defensive tackle Corey Williams (knee), tight end Bubba Franks (knee) and cornerbacks Al Harris (back) and Charles Woodson (foot). Fully participating were quarterback Brett Favre (finger), linebacker Desmond Bishop (shoulder) and receiver Donald Driver (toe). All appear likely to play. There were no changes on the injury report for Minnesota, which continued to list four players — quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (groin), safety Dwight Smith (hamstring), running back Chester Taylor (hip) and receiver Troy Williamson (hamstring) — as limited and fullback Tony Richardson (forearm) as fully participating.

Back trouble
Harris is far more concerned by his ailing back than the civil lawsuit filed against him this week by a former exotic dancer — or that elbow injury everyone seemed so concerned about two weeks ago. “My elbow is still messed up, but my back is just … so far beyond it,” Harris said. “It’s just something I’ve got to deal with, and I just have to fight through it.” Harris, 32, returned to practice in a limited capacity today, but he continues to experience severe pain and spasms in his back, and said he hasn’t gotten a definitive diagnosis. Though he hasn’t missed a game since breaking into the rotation with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998, Harris said he hasn’t ruled out resting for a week or two sometime this season. “I’ve never been in this position since I’ve been playing football, thank God,” Harris said. “If I feel I’m hurting the team, and it comes to that to where I know I need to sit, once that time comes, I’ve just got to see where we’re at.” As for the lawsuit — which concerns an alleged sexual assault in a Pompano Beach, Fla., strip club in 2005 for which Harris has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing — Harris had little to say. “I’ll let anybody who has any common sense go figure it out,” he said.

Odds and ends
Two Packers were honored by the NFL on Thursday after winning online fan balloting. Favre was voted the “air” offensive player of the week, and linebacker Nick Barnett was voted defensive player of the week. … Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is attending to a personal situation in Boston and will join the team in Minnesota, McCarthy said. … Rookie safety Aaron Rouse said he’ll be in uniform and play on three special teams on Sunday. Among the Packers’ top five draft picks, only Rouse and first-rounder Justin Harrell haven’t suited up. … McCarthy began to answer a reporter’s question about remarks made by former Packers safety Darren Sharper, but he stopped mid-sentence and said it wasn’t the Packers’ style. “Our guys are excited about playing this game,” McCarthy said, “and they’re all aware of what’s been said.” Sharper told the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune he believes Favre “has a great chance” of tying the NFL career record by throwing three interceptions on Sunday, and qualified the Packers’ success by saying “it’s also early.”

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