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We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good morning. Three rookie minicamps over the weekend leaves us with more local links than a person has the right to expect on the second Monday in May. In this post, I've tried to pick out the highlights. Many of them don't relate to rookies, but be aware I'll have a second post up soon that addresses some of the questions we had Friday about these camps.

• New Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice wants players to "play fast" in his scheme, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com. Tice: "We don’t want to be out on the field and have the kids think[ing] too much. We don't want to make it hard for the kids. We want to make sure the kids know exactly what we’re gonna do, when we're gonna call it and why we’re gonna call it. That's our job as coaches. We have some great athletes on offense. We have to put them in a position to show us and show the fans, and show the people that love the Bears, their athleticism and explosiveness. We want to be explosive."
• Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub downplayed any possibility other than Devin Hester being his top punt and kickoff returner in 2012. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has more.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times checks in with former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, whose wife died unexpectedly three months ago.
• New Bears quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates will have starter Jay Cutler rolling more often than he did under Mike Martz, according to Dan Pompei of the Tribune.
• Detroit Lions defensive end/linebacker Ronnell Lewis is "nicknamed the Hammer for a reason," writes Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.
• Receiver Ryan Broyles was an "impatient observer" at the Lions' rookie minicamp, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Justin Rogers of Mlive.com offers five observations from the Lions' camp, including: "Linebacker Travis Lewis looked very comfortable in the defensive scheme, playing both outside and middle linebacker."
• Green Bay Packers tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) isn't expected to be cleared to practice when training camp begins, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette takes a look at the Packers' current in-house options as a developmental center. He also notes the Packers have three assistant coaches who played center in the NFL.
• The Packers might not give much training camp work to defensive linemen Mike Neal and Anthony Hargrove, both of whom are suspended during the early part of the season. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will formally sign the Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill on Monday, according to the Associated Press via 1500ESPN.com.
• Richard Meryhew of the Star Tribune looks at the challenges of designing, planning and building the team's new stadium in a four-year timeline.
• New Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson on his recent 15-day jail sentence, via Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "It was terrible. It sucked. Any kids out there, that's a place you don't want to be. Somebody tells you when to wake up, when to make your bed, when to take a shower, when you can have a snack. That's an obstacle you don't want to face. I want all kids to learn not to go down that path and to learn from me."

Getting inside the Friday injury report on what has become a frantic day here in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: The Bears listed two players as questionable for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs -- Defensive tackle Anthony Adams (back) and cornerback D.J. Moore (ankle). Neither is expected to play.

Detroit Lions: Safety Louis Delmas (knee) and cornerback Chris Houston (knee) are doubtful for Sunday night's game at the New Orleans Saints. Neither practiced this week and both are expected to miss the game. Running back Kevin Smith (ankle) is questionable but told reporters he would play Sunday night. Cornerback Brandon McDonald (thigh) did not practice this week and is listed as questionable. The Lions might end up starting Aaron Berry at cornerback and using Alphonso Smith at nickel. Finally, running back Jahvid Best (concussion) has been cleared to begin working out, according to the Lions' website. Best is on injured reserve and can't play again until next season.

Green Bay Packers: Rookie linebacker D.J. Smith is likely to make his first NFL start Sunday against the New York Giants after the Packers ruled out inside linebackers A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop, who have calf injuries. Robert Francois could start at the other inside spot, but you never know when defensive coordinator Dom Capers will come up with a new alignment that minimizes the number of inexperienced players on the field. Smith will call the defensive signals. Tight end Andrew Quarless missed practice Friday because of a groin injury but is probable. Meanwhile, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) returned to practice Friday and is expected to play Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings: As we noted earlier, the Vikings ruled tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) out for the second consecutive game. He has never missed three consecutive games in his career. Receiver Percy Harvin (illness) missed practice and is listed as questionable, but at this point the Vikings believe he will play Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Middle linebacker E.J. Henderson (shoulder) returned to practice but is questionable for Sunday's game. Cornerback Asher Allen (shoulder) and tight end Kyle Rudolph (quadriceps) are also questionable, but coach Leslie Frazier indicated that Henderson and Rudolph have good chances to play. Finally, guard Anthony Herrera (knee) is probable and should play for the first time in more than a month.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Very quietly, as Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com writes, Green Bay Packers center Scott Wells has developed into a frontline NFL player.

It was just two years ago when the Packers tried to replace him with Jason Spitz. Now, Wells is locked in as the Packers' presumably long-term starter and in position for a relatively lucrative contract extension when his deal expires at the end of this year.

Wells hasn't allowed a sack this season and has been called for only two holding penalties since the start of the 2010 season. His experience and intelligence is an underrated reason why the Packers' offense is clicking so efficiently this season.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers tight end Andrew Quarless is hoping to play his way onto the field more often, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers place-kicker Mason Crosby has taken a more relaxed approach during his streak of 21 consecutive field goals, notes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Chicago Bears "firmly believe they can coach their way out of any crisis," writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears coach Lovie Smith wants more production from defensive tackle Henry Melton, notes Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times. Smith: "I mentioned that to Henry today. He hasn't showed up as much. Whether teams have adjusted to him or whatever, we need to get more production from him because he's capable of it."
• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com looks at the Bears' history against Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.
• The Detroit Lions put a premium on disrupting the pocket, not sacks, writes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• The Lions lead the NFL with 33 three-and-outs, notes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Mike O'Hara of the Detroit News handicaps the NFC wild-card race.
• Supporters of the Minnesota Vikings' stadium project in suburban Arden Hills remain confident, writes Frederick Melo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

After the Green Bay Packers' 33-27 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertFollowing their win over Minnesota, the Packers visit the examination room.
   I mentioned this earlier on Twitter, but it bears repeating. Amid Tebowmania and everything else, I hope everyone realizes how out of his mind Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing. As he enters the Packers' bye week, Rodgers sits atop the NFL rankings in passer rating, QBR, completion percentage (71.5), yards per attempt (9.9) and touchdown passes (20). He's thrown three interceptions, two of which were tipped passes, and he's been incredibly consistent as the first player in NFL history to have a passer rating of at least 110 in each of his first seven starts to open a season. Like any team, the Packers have some flaws. But a near-perfect quarterback can compensate for many of them, and that's what Rodgers has done in 2011.
2. I didn't notice this play live, and I probably wouldn't have gone back to look at it were it not for a mention in Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback column. But Packers tight end Andrew Quarless made what has to be the best play of his career with 11 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Quarless lined up in a trips formation on the left side of the line, moved into the slot, flattened Vikings defensive Jared Allen in pass protection and then took a few steps past the line of scrimmage. As Rodgers bought time by scrambling to his right, and Quarless turned upfield and got open for what turned out to be a 21-yard gain. Quarless has been mostly invisible this season upon the return of starter Jermichael Finley, and I wouldn't have guessed he could be so physical or play that aggressively. But it was a stunning display of versatility.
3. Sunday brought two revelations about the Packers' safety situation. One was that former starter Nick Collins, who suffered a serious neck injury in Week 2 and will miss the season, hasn't given up on playing again. He was in the locker room after the game and said: "Hopefully things work out and I'll be ready for next season. But at same time, if doctors tell me I can't play, it is what it is. We're very upbeat and we feel like we have a great chance of coming back." The other is that the broken hand of current starter Morgan Burnett, and the protective club he is wearing as a result, is absolutely hindering his play. You could see it on a number of occasions in run support, most notably when he couldn't hold on to Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson during a 54-yard run in the third quarter. Obviously, Burnett isn't the first safety to miss an open-field tackle on Peterson. But he was in position to make the play and got his arms in the right spot. He just physically couldn't hold on.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

While we were paying attention to silly peripheral things like the Packers' Super Bowl championship, Mason Crosby has developed into one of the most reliable place-kickers in the game. I'm not sure how we missed it, but Crosby hasn't missed a kick since hitting the left upright on an attempt in Week 13 of last season. Since then, he has converted 21 consecutive kicks, including four in Sunday's game. One of them, a 58-yarder in the third quarter, set a Packers franchise record. I heard some mild grumbling from you this summer when the Packers re-signed Crosby to a five-year contract, but I think you're starting to get the picture now.

Getting inside the Friday injury report, which is only half complete because Saturday is the Friday for our two Monday Night Football participants. We'll touch on the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions in a separate post to come.

Green Bay Packers: Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) will miss his second consecutive game and be replaced by Marshall Newhouse for Sunday night's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) is doubtful and isn't likely to play, either. Linebacker Brad Jones (hamstring) is questionable.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) hasn't practiced all week and is listed as doubtful. Unless he makes significant progress over the weekend, Winfield will miss Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Chris Cook would be his replacement in the starting lineup, with Asher Allen working in the nickel. Punter Chris Kluwe (hamstring) is listed as questionable but expected to play.

Wednesday's practice update:

Chicago Bears: Did not have a formal practice and had no media access.

Detroit Lions: The Lions held a "bonus" workout Wednesday and will begin earnest preparations Thursday for Monday night's game against the Bears. Linebackers Justin Durant and Stephen Tulloch didn't participate, according to Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com, but the Lions aren't required to distribute a formal injury report until Thursday. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley practiced for the second time since undergoing surgery on his foot in August. His status for Monday night's game against the Bears is unclear.

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Frank Zombo (shoulder) practiced for the first time since fracturing his scapula in the preseason. It's not yet clear if he will be able to play Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons, but he is obviously making progress. Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee), receiver Donald Driver (shin), linebacker Clay Matthews (quadriceps), tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) and cornerback Charles Woodson (foot/knee) missed practice. Of that group, Bulaga seems most unlikely to play against the Falcons.

Minnesota Vikings: Punter Chris Kluwe (hamstring), center John Sullivan (ankle) and cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) didn't practice Wednesday. There is no indication that any of their injuries are serious enough to force them out of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Check here for a complete list of the Green Bay Packers' roster moves.

Surprise move: Packers coach Mike McCarthy made clear early in camp that he hoped to find a way to keep Graham Harrell on the final roster. It's no secret that No. 2 quarterback Matt Flynn is a pending free agent, and McCarthy thought now wouldn't be a good time to part ways with another quarterback who has spent time developing in the Packers' system. Harrell rebounded from a shaky start to camp, but I guess the Packers couldn’t find a place for him on a roster that includes five tight ends and a whopping 10 linebackers. I would expect him to return on the practice squad, assuming he clears waivers.

No-brainers: It's hard not to connect Jermichael Finley's pending free agency with the high number of tight ends the Packers kept. The list included two rookies, D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor, along with veterans Andrew Quarless and Tom Crabtree. When you have a big-time starter entering a contract year, it makes sense to ensure your future bases are covered. Meanwhile, I don't fault the Packers for limiting themselves to five receivers, and in the process cutting loose Chastin West and Tori Gurley, among others. Both could return via the practice squad, and the veteran depth they have at the position would have made it difficult for a No. 6 receiver to be active on game day. Finally, the Packers chose to keep veteran tailback Ryan Grant and release the younger Dimitri Nance. Smart move.

What's next: The Packers have already found two trade partners for their players, sending fullback Quinn Johnson to the Tennessee Titans for an undisclosed draft pick and guard Caleb Schlauderaff to the New York Jets for an undisclosed draft pick. There aren't any obvious holes on their current 53-man grouping, so the Packers' primary goal Sunday will be to get as many of their just-released players through waivers and onto the practice squad as possible.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

On Wednesday, we discussed in several installments the future of Green Bay Packers tailback Ryan Grant. Let's consider the (presumable) final word on the topic.

Although Grant agreed to a $1 million reduction in his base salary, the remaining $2.5 million is fully guaranteed, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. That means the Packers would owe Grant the entire $2.5 million if they release him, and any team that acquires him in a trade would be inheriting the same $2.5 million guarantee.

That fact, on top of the previous knowledge that the Packers have already paid Grant a $1 million-plus roster bonus, makes it less likely from a financial perspective that the Packers will enter the season without him. There is nothing precluding them from doing so, but generally it's not good business to part ways with a player whose salary you've just guaranteed.

As we discussed Wednesday, it would still require a perfect storm of circumstances for this all to make sense. Moving on ...

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette looks at the Packers' roster to see who is a lock and who is on the bubble. Interesting bubble names include tight end Andrew Quarless and safety Charlie Peprah.
• The Packers are looking for special-teams contributions from their young receivers, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Chicago Bears are planning no personnel changes on their offensive line, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. Offensive line coach Mike Tice: "We had some guys get better across the board. I think each one of the guys got better at some thing, some guys got better at multiple things. Mental errors were at a minimum and they played hard. We played with good technique, for the most part, so it was a good stepping stone for us. But we've got a long way to go still."
• Bears wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher has a pretty big booster in quarterback Jay Cutler. David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune explains.
• Here's what Bears receivers coach Darryl Drake had to say about receiver Roy Williams, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times: "He's not where he needs to be, and he knows that. He and I have talked about that -- and the good thing is, you've got Johnny Knox, who's fighting and working hard. And believe you me, Roy understands Johnny's there. Johnny's hungry, and Johnny wants his spot back. If things don't start changing, then Johnny's going to be in there. That's straight from the horse's mouth."
• Minnesota Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe had a mild setback on his return from a hamstring injury and won't play in the team's preseason game this weekend, according to Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune. That means Shiancoe is likely to miss the entire preseason assuming coach Leslie Frazier doesn't play many starters in the final week.
• Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson appears to have won a starting job by default, notes Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com.
• Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press speaks with Vikings rookie defensive tackle Christian Ballard, who has made an impression this summer.
• Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News on Detroit Lions tight end Will Heller: "Entering his 10th season in the league, Heller is certainly that, playing all of the above positions for the Lions. His primary position remains tight end, but he's also playing the 'H' back when offensive coordinator Scott Linehan chooses to go to a two-back set. In those sets, Heller can either be a fullback, a pass protector or receiver."
• Lions rookie receiver Titus Young is still recovering from a hamstring injury but made a nice catch in practice Wednesday, notes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• All three of the linebackers who started in Week 1 last year for the Lions last season are out of the league, notes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Some quick-hitting nuggets from across the NFC North knowing that two of our teams, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, are still practicing as we type and/or read...

Item: Bears defensive tackle Marcus Harrison still isn't practicing because he reported to training camp 11 pounds overweight.
Comment: I wonder when the Bears' patience with Harrison will run out. While he works on conditioning, the Bears are looking at a host of defensive linemen who could take his roster spot.

Item: Packers tight end Andrew Quarless (hip flexor) returned to practice.
Comment: Not a moment too soon. A couple of young tight ends, D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor, opened some eyes during the first week of camp.

Item: Packers defensive end Mike Neal participated in his first team drills since major shoulder surgery last fall, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Comment: That should be a welcome sign for all Packers fans who hope he is ready to take over for the departed Cullen Jenkins.

Item: The Detroit Lions used newcomer Stephen Tulloch at outside linebacker in his debut practice Thursday.
Comment: Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com believes Tulloch eventually will be moved inside. I agree. It makes sense to give him a chance to ease into the scheme before giving him play-calling responsibility.

Item: Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said he doesn't consider right tackle Phil Loadholt a possible replacement at left tackle.
Comment: That makes sense. Shifting Loadholt would put another position in flux. As it stands, the Vikings are also using Chris DeGeare at right guard while Anthony Herrera continues his recovery from knee surgery. The only way Loadholt should be a possibility is if current starter Charlie Johnson proves he can't handle the job.

Item: Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson is expected to return Friday from a three-day absence. Peterson's fiancé gave birth to a son in Houston.
Comment: His return will give the Vikings their full complement of offensive players for the first time this summer.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The NFL lockout robbed the Green Bay Packers of some traditional pomp and circumstance normally afforded to Super Bowl champions. They have yet to visit the White House. Their ring distribution was pushed back to an anticlimactic mid-June ceremony. Some key players didn't finalize new contracts until late July.

So as they reported to training camp this past weekend, the Packers were focused on recreating the special circumstances that led to their Super Bowl XLV victory in hopes of an encore trip this season. They bid farewell to several players whose jobs were phased out by the end of 2010, but at the public behest of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and others, they brought back a number of others whose secondary contributions seemed too valuable to lose.

"That was important," Rodgers said. "I don't think you get better by robbing from the whole. We were fortunate enough to bring back some of our guys and also bring some guys back who were injured. You start off with a great amount of chemistry between the guys. It's a close-knit locker room, and guys hang out with each other, enjoy spending time together and enjoy working together.

"So we have that going for us, which I know doesn't go on for every team, and that does a lot. When you can count on the guy next to you, when you spend time with him, when you spend time after practice watching film, that's important stuff when it comes down to crunch time and winning games."

Appropriately, I spoke with Rodgers only after he wrapped up a locker room card game. Having been apart for the entire offseason, Packers players clearly were relishing the renewal of friendships and bonds forged during their championship run. Coach Mike McCarthy said the Packers' "No. 1 issue" will be handling success, and players are channeling that request toward a second Super Bowl title -- and a proper celebration afterward.

"A-Rod was able to keep some of the guys that he wants so they can still be explosive," safety Nick Collins said. "We kept some of our main people on defense so we can keep doing what we're doing. Now it's just a matter of putting it all together again."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Tight end Jermichael Finley is back (most of him): Felled last season by a Week 5 knee injury and later a postsurgical infection, the Packers tight end reported to training camp in superb shape after a long rehabilitation. He has without question trimmed his already-wiry frame and drew skepticism when he insisted he weighed in at 240 pounds.

The Packers' medical staff prescribed a gradual return to football activities, but it didn't take long for Finley to display his unique receiving skills during an individual drill. When two quarterbacks inadvertently threw him passes, Finley calmly caught one and tucked it under his arm, then caught the other.

Finley's return will prove as challenging as it is exciting and should be a focal point over the next few weeks. After his injury, the Packers refocused their offense around receiver Greg Jennings. Rodgers said it will be a "challenge" to fold in the pre- and post-injury schemes.

"You add another talented guy back to the mix like that," Rodgers said, "and it's tough to get the ball around to all of our skill guys. You've got to find a way to get everyone else involved, realizing that you might be bringing back the most talented guy to the offense.

"When [Finley] is out there, we're a different team. Defensive coordinators have a difficult job when they're trying to figure out how to cover him. It's going to be important for us to find ways to get him the ball but also to keep the other guys involved who played big roles for us last year."

2. The extents of leadership: Rodgers said in a number of interviews that he wanted the Packers to re-sign receiver James Jones and running back John Kuhn. Both returned with three-year contracts on Sunday.

But Rodgers insisted in the strongest terms possible that he never went to general manager Ted Thompson to plead either case. "That's 100 percent untrue," he said.

Asked how much he talked to Thompson or coach Mike McCarthy about the issue, Rodgers said: "Zero."

He added, "I don't get paid to do that. I get paid to play quarterback. I don't make those decisions. You look at Ted's track record. He's done an incredible job of bringing in talent. They've done an incredible job bringing in talent; they bring in the talent, I get paid to play quarterback. It's not my style to go up there and say anything to those guys."

At the same time, let's not be naive. When a Super Bowl MVP publicly calls for a reasonable personnel move, it shouldn't be surprising to see it happen.

3. Backfield rotation: I saw no evidence that the Packers plan for anything other than Ryan Grant to be their starting tailback when the season opens. There has been plenty of discussion about Grant's future after the postseason emergence of James Starks and the arrival of rookie Alex Green, but Grant worked with the first team throughout the first three days of practice and had some runs, McCarthy said, "that looked like Ryan Grant looks like in the regular season."

Starks also got some time with the first team, and that kind of rotation is fully expected to continue. The one question mark is on third downs following the free-agent departure of Brandon Jackson. Neither Grant nor Starks is known for his receiving ability. Could Green be that guy? Or is that why Rodgers wanted Kuhn back? I'm guessing it's the latter.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Under McCarthy, the Packers have a long history of shifting offensive linemen to fill vacant positions. But it was still interesting to see first-round draft pick Derek Sherrod line up at left guard with the first team for three consecutive practices.

Sherrod was drafted as a left tackle and said he had never played left guard before Saturday evening. He appeared to hold his own on a physical level, although there was no doubt that his head was swimming in the Packers' playbook.

"Once he gets it down mentally, he's going to be a damn good player," right guard Josh Sitton said. "I think he's got the confidence. He's got the talent level. I think he's going to be a good player."

If Sherrod maintains his spot, the Packers will open the season with two first-round picks and one second-rounder among their five starters. And after adding his 6-foot-5, 321-pound frame to the group, the Packers now have what McCarthy called "our biggest line in my six years here."

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Since last summer, we've been hearing about the potential of defensive end Mike Neal, the Packers' second-round pick in the 2010 draft. His chiseled 294-pound frame certainly looks the part. But Neal didn't practice much during my time in Green Bay because he is still recovering from surgery this past fall to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his shoulder.

I'm not in any way questioning Neal's toughness or the level of his rehabilitation. But the departure of veteran Cullen Jenkins opened the door for Neal to take the right end job and own it. Nothing can happen until he heals and strings together a few weeks of uninterrupted practice. The Packers are hoping to accelerate his return by the end of this week. For now, the Packers are using C.J. Wilson in that spot.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Rookie Randall Cobb is working at all three receiving positions as both a kickoff and punt returner and even as the backup holder. His acceleration and aggressiveness in the open field were eye-opening, at least with the team in shorts and helmets. Although much could change, McCarthy said he is giving Cobb a longer look at punt returner than at kickoffs. He is hoping Green emerges to handle the latter.
• McCarthy has been complimentary of rookie tight ends D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor. Both are athletic and have good hands. Because of Finley's return schedule and Andrew Quarless' hip flexor, Williams and Taylor both got good work with the first team. You have to wonder whether Williams, especially, will challenge Quarless' roster spot.
• The Packers have shifted to a new camp schedule that features one practice a day, usually with a 7 p.m. local start. The plus for players? No two-a-days. The downside? "There are a lot more meetings," linebacker Clay Matthews said. Rodgers said, "We're in meetings all day. It's a great opportunity for young guys to get into the playbook. But it is a longer day because you're in meetings, but it's positive for the young guys." McCarthy planned this schedule before the lockout, but in the end it will help new players catch up quicker.
• Matthews slimmed down with a focus on running this offseason and came to training camp determined to avoid the hamstring injuries he incurred in the Packers' previous two training camps. (Did he really need those camps? You decide.) I thought it was interesting that on the first play of team drills in full pads, Matthews stood up right tackle Bryan Bulaga and made the stop on a running play. One of the Packers' weaknesses last season was run defense on Matthews' side.
• Why was Jones' return so important? Here's how Jennings put it: "We're looked at and viewed as one of the better receiving corps in the NFL. You unplug any one of those guys, that outlook kind of goes down. I don't care which one you unplug, it goes down. If we had lost James, we definitely would have had a void to fill."
• McCarthy hasn't always kept three quarterbacks on his 53-man roster, but he likes what he's seen from No. 3 quarterback Graham Harrell. I like keeping the third quarterback, and frankly it's risky the way we've gone about it," McCarthy said. "If you asked me my druthers, if I could keep three quarterbacks, I would always keep three, and I would have a fourth on developmental. It's the most important position in football. ... When it was Brett [Favre] and Aaron you never blinked. But Matt [Flynn] has also now shown he is durable and a tough guy, so he's also given us that flexibility to go and carry the extra DB. But if you're asking me to assess it from a risk standpoint, I would definitely lean toward keeping a third."
• I saw one padded practice in my three days with the Packers. It lasted nearly two and a half hours. McCarthy called it "sluggish," but to me it was understandable. The biggest sign that players weren't quite in their element yet: not a single fight or raised temper that I could see.
• Safety Morgan Burnett (knee) has been cleared for full practice but is not yet working with the first team. To this point, at least, Charlie Peprah has maintained his starting spot. At right outside linebacker, however, the Packers rotated three players with the first team: Frank Zombo, Erik Walden and Brad Jones.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Here's a trivia question for you: How many preseason games has Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews played in his career?

Put it this way: He's played more seasons (two) than preseason games (one).

With all the hand-wringing going on in recent months about missed offseason practices and shortened training camps, it's worth noting Matthews' alternative path. In each of his two previous training camps, Matthews has suffered a significant hamstring injury. In 2009 it cost him more than two weeks of practice and three preseason games. Last season, he suffered the injury during the second week of camp and didn't return to practice until days before the regular-season opener.

Those absences hardly slowed him on the way to a combined 23.5 sacks over those two seasons. So I had to stifle a laugh Sunday when Matthews went out of his way to note offseason work designed to lessen the possibility of a summer injury.

I asked Matthews: "Did you really need those camps?"

Matthews' response: "What do you think?"

Me: Uh-oh. Don't hit me.

Matthews added: "Obviously I would like to be out there with the team, but fortunately I stood aside and made mental notes and stayed involved in the defense and everything. But hopefully we can stay healthy this year. For the most part, I'll be ready to go."

Matthews said he had slimmed down this offseason, taking advantage of a consistent workout schedule in California and adopting a more disciplined eating program. He wouldn't say if he reported to camp at a lower weight but joked "I just got myself a six-pack."

In all seriousness, Matthews does appear slimmer. He said he put "extra emphasis on running and field work" during the offseason so he could make sure he was able to "handle anything I need as far as running and lifting" this summer.

I can't even bring myself to note that Matthews has made it through the Packers' first two practices of camp considering players aren't wearing pads and there has been no real contact. (Wait, I just did.) Monday evening will feature the Packers' first padded practice of the summer.

Before we sign off, however, here are a few thoughts from Sunday evening's session:

• The Packers have been cautious with defensive end Mike Neal, the heir apparent at right end who still isn't completely recovered from shoulder surgery. He has been in uniform but hasn't participated in team drills, so obviously I haven't gotten much of a read on him. Packers coach Mike McCarthy has been singing the praises of C.J. Wilson, who has been working with the first team, but Wilson suffered a bruised calf during a special teams period Sunday night.
• If a rookie has stood out in the past day, it's tight end D.J. Williams. He has connected with quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a number of downfield passes and made a one-handed catch near the sideline Sunday night that caught my eye. The Packers are limiting Jermichael Finley (knee) and holding out Andrew Quarless (hip flexor), so Williams has a significant opportunity to make an early splash. You wonder if he has a chance to unseat Quarless on the depth chart.
• Finley did some work in 7-on-7 drills and McCarthy said he could join full-team drills by Wednesday. There has been no setback in Finley's recovery from a knee injury, but the Packers are giving him as much time as they can to ease him back into football activities.
• Rookies Randall Cobb and Alex Green have gotten significant work at kickoff returner. It's hard not to get excited about Cobb's speed and the aggressiveness he hits the hole with, even if he's just in shorts and a helmet.
• Rookie Derek Sherrod said he has never played guard in his life and didn't know he would be moved to left guard until he reported to training camp. Still, he doesn't look out of place and McCarthy noted that his addition has given the Packers the biggest offensive line they've had in some time.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson breaks down the tight ends of each NFC North team. Today: Green Bay Packers.

Jermichael Finley is not the best tight end in all of football yet, but he very soon will be. In fact, I am flat-out smitten with the guy. Finley is very special. I think he is a combination of Antonio Gates and Calvin Johnson and truly cannot be covered with one NFL defensive player. He is a receiving specimen without weakness. Finley began the season as Aaron Rodgers’ top option in an excellent passing game, but Finley was lost for the season in Week 4 with a knee injury. Just imagine what Green Bay's fantastic offense will look like next year when Finley is back in the mix.

After Finley went down last season, the Packers turned to a rookie, Andrew Quarless. Quarless has ability, but overall, he was a little disappointing. He looks like a backup who needs to become much more consistent and work on the finer points of playing his position. But rookie tight ends rarely flourish, so he could improve in 2011. Still, Finley caught as many passes as Quarless did last season, and Finley played only four games.

The Packers used a fifth-round pick on tight end D.J. Williams. Williams could seriously cut into Quarless’ playing time. Williams is an undersized tight end but was an exceptional college receiver. The Packers will probably get very creative with how they use and align the rookie.

Linebacker-turned-tight end Spencer Havner found the end zone quite a bit in 2009 considering his limited role in this offense. He contributes on special teams but was a complete non-factor on offense last season.

Tom Crabtree and Donald Lee were factors for the Super Bowl champs last season. But neither player is a mismatch in the passing game and both are now liabilities as blockers. Lee was cut in March, and it wouldn’t be surprising if neither player were on Green Bay’s opening day roster.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com. Follow Matt Williamson on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL

After the Green Bay Packers' 7-3 loss to the Detroit Lions, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their loss against the Lions, the Packers take their turn in the examination room.
1. There can be no argument that the Packers opened this game flat, giving an amped up 2-10 team every reason to believe an upset could be achieved. Rookie tight end Andrew Quarless' first-quarter fumble, along with receiver Greg Jennings' inexplicable mishandling of what would have been a 73-yard touchdown, were the two most obvious examples. I realize most Packers players weren't on the roster the last time the team lost to Detroit, and maybe they thought a victory Sunday was inevitable. But when you're already trailing the division lead by a game and aren't high on the list of NFC wild-card contenders, you can't afford to take anything for granted. For reasons that can't be explained, it sure seemed the Packers did.
2. With three games remaining, the Packers need to prepare themselves for the real possibility of not making the playoffs. Sure, there are scenarios in which they can either win the NFC North or clinch a wild-card spot, but both would require help from other teams. They could be eliminated from contention for the division title as early as next week if they lose in a difficult game at the New England Patriots, and the Chicago Bears defeat the Minnesota Vikings. We won't jump the gun on analyzing the impact of missing the playoffs, especially considering the crippling list of injuries the Packers have suffered. So we'll just say the Packers have their work cut out for them to avoid serious disappointment.
3. Just last week, we noted quarterback Aaron Rodgers' running prowess and that he has been mostly smart about avoiding major contact. Sunday was not one of those cases. And in this instance, no one could blame an uncalled blow to the helmet, either. Instead of sliding at the end of his 18-yard run, Rodgers dove forward through two converging defenders. One of them, Lions linebacker Landon Johnson, hit him hard but cleanly on the shoulder as Rodgers fell to the ground. Rodgers' concussion appeared to occur when his helmet bounced off the turf. The most important priority for any quarterback is to be available, not to fight for extra yards at the end of a scramble.

And here is one issue I don't get:

The Packers' offensive line has been pretty stable this season, so it was a little surprising to see it get manhandled by a Lions defensive line that was playing without one starter (defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch) and another (defensive end Cliff Avril) whose playing time was limited by injury. I realize that left guard Daryn Colledge left with an injury, and that the Packers tried two replacements in Jason Spitz and T.J. Lang. But I think the Packers were still expecting more than 66 rushing yards against an opponent that entered the game with the NFL's No. 25 ranked rush defense. And giving up four sacks, all to Lions backups or injury replacements, was also unexpected.

You can probably guess who leads NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards.

Yes, the Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick stands atop that list.

If your horizons extend beyond the NFC North, you might know that Josh Freeman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranks second.

But unless you cheated and looked at the chart, you might not have realized that the next two players both play in this division. With three quarters of the season in the books, the Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers and Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler are the third- and fourth-most proficient quarterbacks on their feet this season, respectively. They are converting key first downs via scrambles and, in the case of Rodgers, capitalizing on play calls designed specifically for him to run.

Longtime observers know that both quarterbacks have displayed nimble feet and been productive scramblers throughout their careers. However, I think we can agree that the dynamic has shifted to a higher and more critical level this season. As both players approach their career highs in rushing yards, they have assumed additional roles in their offenses. Scrambles are no longer a bonus or a measure of last resort, but instead part of the flow in each scheme -- especially in Rodgers' case.

"If I'm moving and I feel like I can get us a positive gain, I'm going to take off," Rodgers said recently.

It sounds simple, but history shows it doesn't happen very often at this rate. Rodgers is on pace for 378 rushing yards this season. That total has been surpassed by 16 NFL quarterbacks over the 22 full seasons since the NFL moved to a 16-game season in 1978. (Hat tip to pro-football-reference.com's user-friendly database.)


Defenses continue to be surprised by Rodgers' speed and nose for the first-down marker, an oversight Rodgers clearly relishes. But it's one thing to scramble away from pressure. It's quite another to call designed runs or build in run options to pass plays, both of which Packers coach Mike McCarthy has done for Rodgers this season.

Two weeks ago against the Atlanta Falcons, for example, the Packers called four designed runs for Rodgers, based on ESPN Stats & Information analysis. Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, Rodgers converted a third-and-5 situation in the fourth quarter by reading two keys that called for him to run.

When you watch the play, you see the 49ers with six men on the line of scrimmage. At the snap, linebacker Takeo Spikes ran with tailback John Kuhn and linebacker Patrick Willis stayed with tight end Andrew Quarless.

Those moves revealed a man-to-man defense, meaning the other five 49ers defenders would be chasing receivers with their backs to the line of scrimmage. Recognizing that dynamic, Rodgers immediately took off and sprinted 11 yards untouched downfield to convert the third down.

"That's part of the way he is trained," McCarthy said. "That's part of the way he utilizes his athletic ability. I think he has been very smart with his scrambling. The one big third down where they played two-man, he recognized it right away and took off. ... So he is not out there to run the football, but I think he has been selective and smart with it."

Overall, Rodgers has converted 18 first downs by running this season -- almost as many as running backs Brandon Jackson (19) and Kuhn (19). There have been a number of occasions this season, most notably against the Falcons and in Week 3 against the Bears, when Rodgers has been the Packers' best option in short-yardage situations.

There is some risk in exposing a Pro Bowl quarterback to open-field contact, but it's been a necessity this season given the state of the Packers' running game. Rodgers took a particularly rough shot near the sideline against the Dallas Cowboys, but since then, McCarthy said, Rodgers has made better decisions to slide and overall is "much smarter running the football."

The same can't always be said for Cutler, who admittedly isn't much of a slider. At 233 pounds, Cutler prefers to lower his shoulder to squeeze out a few more yards. He's taken a few brutal shots as a result, most notably this past Sunday from Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, but to this point has emerged unscathed.

"It's December," Cutler said after Sunday's game. "We're playing well. We've got to keep it going. I've never really slid a lot in my career. If we're in the middle of the field, I might get down. But I'm trying to pick up third downs just like everyone else and I'm going to try to do whatever it takes."

When you subtract kneel-downs, which technically count as running plays, Cutler has converted a first down on 12 of his 26 actual runs this season, according to the Bears. For me, none was more impressive than his 16-yard run last month against the Miami Dolphins on third-and-16 -- a play that demonstrated both his speed and footwork as he tiptoed to stay in bounds at the marker.

There have been and will be many NFL quarterbacks who are athletic enough to move out of the pocket and avoid losing yardage. But relatively rare is the quarterback who can be counted on for routinely positive plays via the ground. As the playoffs approach, and first downs are at a premium, the Packers and Bears can rest assured that they have one.

ATLANTA -- Here are some highlights of the inactive lists in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.:

• The Green Bay Packers deactivated tight end Donald Lee and will start rookie Andrew Quarless. Tom Crabtree and Spencer Havner will be available in reserve.
• As expected, the Packers will have only three safeties available: Starts Nick Collins and Charlie Peprah, along with backup Jarrett Bush. Atari Bigby (hamstring) and Anthony Smith (ankle) are inactive.
• The Minnesota Vikings deactivated receiver Bernard Berrian, who has been dealing with a groin injury for the past three weeks. Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin will start against the Washington Redskins.
• Rookie Vikings cornerback Chris Cook won't play. Cook was added to the injury report Friday because of a knee injury, but after the way he played last week against the Green Bay Packers, you wonder if this was just a soft demotion.
• Ryan Cook will start at right guard for the Vikings, replacing the injured Anthony Herrera.