Notes: 9-3-2007
McCarthy says Driver 'is doing well'
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com
Posted September 3, 2007
Indications are receiver Donald Driver has a decent chance of playing in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, but his sprained foot probably won't be put through a full test in practice until later in the week. The Green Bay Packers' No. 1 receiver, however, did take part in some of Sunday's practice. He went through the pre-stretching walkthrough period, the team stretch and some individual drills. Though he looked a bit gimpy both on the field and in the locker room, coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism about Driver's chances of playing. "I feel the same today as I did last week," McCarthy said on Sunday. A week ago, both McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson said they were hopeful Driver would be ready for Week 1. Driver sustained the injury to his right foot in the Aug. 23 preseason game against Jacksonville after landing awkwardly following a reception. He wore a walking boot cast for several days and did not play in the preseason finale at Tennessee last Thursday. Driver declined to speak with reporters after Sunday's practice and sat in his locker for most of the 30-minute session reporters were allowed in the locker room. Near the end of that session, he walked gingerly toward the team's training room. "Donald is doing well," McCarthy said. "He went through the rehab part of it. He'll be limited probably the remainder of the week, and we'll make a decision on him at the end of the week." The Packers likely will list Driver as "limited" on their first injury report, which must be released on Wednesday. That's a new designation of injury status this year. The league calls for teams to list injured players under the following four categories after practice on Wednesdays and Thursdays: out, did not participate in practice, limited participation in practice and full participation in practice. On Fridays, teams will then use the traditional categories — out, doubtful, questionable and probable — on their reports.
Other injuries
Safety Aaron Rouse didn't appear to be participating in practice on Sunday. Rouse (hamstring) did not play in the preseason finale against Tennessee. He was on the practice field on Sunday but did not have a helmet with him. Defensive end Michael Montgomery (knee) did not attend practice. Other players who sat out against Tennessee but returned to practice on at least a part-time basis were: running backs Vernand Morency (knee) and Brandon Jackson (concussion), guard Tony Palmer (hamstring), tackle Tony Moll (stinger) and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee).
Rayner's workout
Former Packers kicker Dave Rayner, who was released on Saturday, was not claimed off waivers but was headed to New York to work out for the Giants today. The Packers had offered Rayner to the Giants in the Saturday trade that brought running back Ryan Grant to Green Bay. Instead, the Giants wanted a draft pick, which turned out to be a sixth-round pick that contained no conditions on Grant being on the roster for any certain length of time. The Giants' kicker, for now, is Lawrence Tynes, who was acquired in a trade from the Kansas City Chiefs for a conditional draft pick. The Giants only have to give up the pick if Tynes is on their 45-man roster on opening day. "From what I understand, if I kick well in this workout, they're going to sign me and release Tynes," Rayner said on Sunday shortly before he was to board a plane for New York.
Roster moves
The Carolina Panthers reportedly will sign former Packers safety Marquand Manuel, who was released on Sunday less than 18 months after he signed a five-year, $10 million free-agent contract with the Packers. The Charlotte Observer reported Manuel agreed to terms of a deal on Sunday and is expected to sign the contract today. The Packers chose to release Manuel after Atari Bigby beat him out for a starting job. "We were very honest with Marquand all along, especially when it started looking like it was going to go the other way," Thompson said on Sunday afternoon. "I'm sure he's probably signed with another team already. But he did fine for us. Did we expect a little more last year? Yeah, but it wasn't because he wasn't trying. It just didn't work out." Receiver/kick returner Shaun Bodiford, also released by the Packers on Saturday, was claimed off waivers by the Washington Redskins. Quarterback Ingle Martin, who was released last week, was signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad.
Practice squad moves
The eight-man practice squad assembled on Sunday included seven players who were with the Packers in training camp plus tight end Ryan Krause, who was released on Saturday by the Cleveland Browns. Krause originally was a sixth-round pick of the San Diego Chargers and appeared in five regular-season games from 2004 to 2006. The others retained for the practice squad were: receivers David Clowney and Chris Francies, tight end Clark Harris, linebacker Spencer Havner, tackle Orrin Thompson, quarterback Paul Thompson and running back Corey White. Ted Thompson said defensive end Larry Birdine turned down a practice squad contract and planned to pursue a spot with another team.
Published by PackerPundit On Monday, September 03, 2007 at 2:57 PM.
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