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Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Green Bay Packers and why.

Today is May 16. That leaves about 2 1/2 months before training camp and almost four months before the start of the regular season for reinforcements to arrive. But for the time being, there is only one player on the Packers' roster who seems suited to be a No. 1 back in the NFL.

It's difficult to know for sure, but from the outside it appears the Packers are clearing the road for James Starks to take over that role in his third NFL season. Veteran starter Ryan Grant has not been re-signed and the Packers did not draft a running back last month. Behind Starks are veteran fullback/short-yardage specialist John Kuhn and two second-year players in Alex Green and Brandon Saine; Green is recovering from a torn ACL in his knee.

Grant could always re-sign at a later date, but if not, the Packers are taking a bit of a leap in hoping that Starks can stay on the field for a full season. He missed the first 13 games of 2010 because of a hamstring injury and was limited during the second half of 2011 because of knee and ankle ailments. Overall, he's missed as many games (16) as he's played. The pressure is on Starks to demonstrate he is not a part-time back.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

The 2012 NFL draft is in the books. Our silly little arguments on left tackles and injured receivers seem so long ago. Oh, the memories….

In a few years, we'll be able to evaluate this draft with a measure of accuracy. For now, let's just consider some immediate highlights and lowlights.

BEST MOVE

The Green Bay Packers fielded arguably the best offense in franchise history last season. Their defense, on the other hand, allowed more passing yards (4,796) than any NFL team that has ever played. So let's award the "Best Move" title to the Packers' decision to deeply supplement their defensive personnel in this draft.

The Packers selected six consecutive defensive players to open this affair, the result of unprecedented maneuvering by general manager Ted Thompson -- who traded up as many times in this draft (three) as he had in his six previous drafts combined. Speaking to reporters in Green Bay, Thompson joked that he is "ashamed" and it was "pathetic" to have given up three of his 11 picks in those trade-ups, but to me that spoke to how seriously the Packers took their defensive slide last season.

Thompson insisted that there was "no intent to do it that way," but that would make for one heck of a coincidence, wouldn't it? Regardless of why it happened, the Packers came away with a pair of pass-rushers/disruptors in linebacker Nick Perry (No. 28 overall) and defensive lineman Jerel Worthy (No. 51) and two defensive backs -- cornerback Casey Hayward (No. 62) and safety Jerron McMillian (No. 133) -- who will have opportunities to compete for immediate playing time.

Worthy, Hayward and linebacker Terrell Manning (No. 163) were the three players Thompson traded up for, giving you an idea of how strongly he must have felt about them. Will this group stabilize the Packers' defense in 2012? It's impossible to predict individual performances, but generally speaking I'll go with this theory: The more the merrier.

MOST SURPRISING MOVE

The Detroit Lions had already used their first-round pick on a future need, Iowa tackle Riley Reiff, when they grabbed Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles in the second round. Not only did the Lions already have a deep set of pass catchers, but Broyles is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November.

So yes, it was initially surprising to see a match between the Lions and Broyles, even though it was easy to understand how the Lions made the decision. As we discussed at the time, the Lions follow their board in as tightly wrapped-up of a vacuum as any team in the NFL. Although they had significant need at cornerback and safety, they had Broyles rated higher and that was that.

Hopefully, those of you who were angry and didn't buy that explanation were assuaged by the latter stages of the Lions' draft. They chose three cornerbacks -- Louisiana-Lafayette's Dwight Bentley at No. 85, Albion's Chris Greenwood at No. 148 and New Mexico State's Jonte Green at No. 196 -- over their next five selections and finished with six consecutive defensive picks overall.

RISKIEST MOVE

The riskiest move in this draft was one that actually didn't happen. The Chicago Bears did nothing to address their personnel along the offensive line, first in free agency and now the draft.

It's true that a pair of 2011 starters who suffered season-ending injuries, tackle Gabe Carimi and guard Chris Williams, will return in 2012. And the promotion of Mike Tice to offensive coordinator should provide linemen with more help and less one-on-one responsibility than they had in the previous two seasons.

But the bottom line is the Bears have been forced to undergo multiple rounds of midseason patchwork in each of the past two seasons to lessen the punishment on quarterback Jay Cutler. When coach Lovie Smith said last month that he was confident in his current lineup, many of us wondered if he was just covering the Bears' draft plans.

He wasn't, which means the Bears are setting themselves up for another choppy season of personnel changes if their confidence proves unfounded.

FILE IT AWAY

We noted before the draft that the NFC North stood on the precipice of transition from the Black and Blue to the Air and Space division. You could make an argument that all four NFC North teams had a need at running back, especially the Packers and Lions. But as the NFL continues to move toward the passing game, it was reasonable to wonder whether anyone would act on those needs.

They did not. In fact, not a single running back was drafted in this division through the first six rounds. The Packers declined to take one in spite of a thin backfield led by injury-prone James Starks. The Lions, meanwhile, didn't deem it necessary despite the questionable health histories of Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith.

Message sent, huh?

We spent some time this spring noting the Green Bay Packers' relatively thin depth in the backfield. This week, we wondered how much it really matters to have an established No. 1 running back in the NFC North.

Perhaps that explains why veteran Ryan Grant remains available on the market more than a month after his contract expired. Grant said last month that his "ideal situation" was to return to the Packers, and seemed satisfied with whatever role they had in mind for him. On Friday, however, he visited the New England Patriots along with veteran Tim Hightower, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Sometimes a visit can jump-start negotiations with the original team, and other times it means the sides have agreed to go their separate ways. In this case, the Packers might want to sit tight and see how they do in the draft before deciding whether to bring back Grant for another season alongside James Starks.

It's also worth noting that 2011 third-round pick Alex Green told the Packers' web site this week that his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury is progressing, and that he'll be ready for training camp. Stay tuned on that front.

In the early days of Mike McCarthy's tenure with the Green Bay Packers, it was fashionable to question his running game and contrast its production with the passing of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. The Packers' recent success amid the NFL's passing explosion has all but stifled such squawking, so it was notable last month when McCarthy brought up the issue unprompted at the NFL scouting combine.

Although he didn't provide much detail, McCarthy made clear he wants more from his running game in 2012.

"We feel we're maxing out the drop-back game in normal down and distance," McCarthy said. "Are we maxing out the run game in normal down and distance? I think it'd be safe to say no as we stand here today. Those are the types of things we are going to take a close look at."

I think we can all agree the Packers' running game has been an afterthought in recent seasons. As the first chart illustrates, they ranked at the bottom of most statistical categories -- including, importantly, attempts -- in 2011. McCarthy said he is "not really worried about how many times we run the ball" but plans to change "how we run the ball."

The second chart shows the Packers' run-pass ratios by down in 2011, one that -- like most teams -- progressively leans toward the pass as you move from first to third down.

McCarthy declined to explain because he hasn't presented his ideas to players yet. My guess is that whatever changes he has in mind -- possibly using different kinds of running plays in certain situations -- won't be obvious to the casual observer. To me, the proverbial elephant in the room is not how often the Packers run the ball or what kind of plays they use. It's who the Packers are going to hand the ball off to in the first place.

As of this moment, it's difficult to count on either of the Packers' top two tailbacks to be a feature back in 2012. Ryan Grant is 29 and appears set to test the free-agent market, while James Starks has quite frankly missed too much time with injuries to merit the Packers' full trust.

The third chart shows every Packers running back who had a carry last season. Alex Green, a third-round draft pick last season, is returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Brandon Saine, who played on 69 snaps last season, was a practice-squad promotion.

Taken altogether, the running back position rises to one of the Packers' more underrated offseason areas of need. It's important for McCarthy to perform his micro-analysis and make the kind of subtle adjustments he's referring to, but its impact will be limited if the Packers don't address the personnel side of the issue.

Last month, McCarthy used words like "very consistent" and "solid" to describe Grant's season. Addressing Starks, he said: "James' availability, that's his issue. When James is available and he's playing week in and week out, he's a young player that gets better. But when he doesn't play he’s not going to make the progress. I think James is a very talented guy, very bright future, but his availability wasn't where you’d like it to be."

Starks played in 13 games last season, but knee and ankle injuries he suffered in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers limited him to 13 carries over the Packers' final six regular-season games. In 2010, you'll remember he made only three regular-season appearances before taking over the position in the playoffs.

So over the course of two seasons, Starks has had two limited spans of good health and production: The Packers' four-game playoff push in 2010 and the first 10 games of 2011. Is that enough to be counted on as a lead back in 2012? Based on McCarthy's comments, I don't think so.

It's quite possible the Packers could make a committee system work with Starks, John Kuhn and perhaps Green or Saine. And I would agree with those who don't want to see the Packers devote too many additional resources to their offense, not when their defense crashed in 2011 and could use depth and upgrades at several positions. Perhaps McCarthy's schematic analysis is designed to minimize the need for additional personnel.

But this isn't the time for committing to a committee system, not as we stand on the doorstep of the NFL's player acquisition period. Committees are what teams settle on, not what they plan for. And at the moment, their personnel situation in the backfield merits at least an attempt to enhance. If other priorities ultimately trump it, so be it. We'll soon see if the Packers agree.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provides the hard numbers that will make it so difficult for the Green Bay Packers to use their franchise tag on quarterback Matt Flynn, with the purposes of trading him, rather than simply allowing him to leave via free agency.

The basics: The Packers have about $113.3 million already allocated for a 2012 cap expected to remain around $120 million. That means they have around $7 million in wiggle room. But using their tag on Flynn would require a $14 million commitment, requiring them to clear at least another $7 million -- and that's if they don't do any other contracts all offseason.

Tight end Jermichael Finley and center Scott Wells, among others, are pending free agents. The Packers probably want to keep both, but it would be tough to squeeze in the 2012 cap numbers of their presumptive new contracts while also leaving Flynn's $14 million on the books even in a temporary situation. A more likely scenario would be to let Flynn depart and use the remaining space on a deal for Wells, and perhaps a much-cheaper franchise tag on Finley.

Teams can do any single move they want in the cap era if they're willing to sacrifice in other areas. In this case, would it be worth it to get an extra draft pick or two for Flynn if it means losing Finley and/or Wells in the process? I'm guessing no.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• The New York Giants used the 2010 Packers as motivation in their run to the Super Bowl, writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders if Packers running back James Starks is ready to be the team's unquestioned starter in 2012.
• Giants linebacker Michael Boley is a signature draft pick of new Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears would be advised to invest in a veteran backup quarterback, Giants backup David Carr told Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner told Peggy Kusinski of NBC Chicago that the Bears needed better receivers to succeed in former coordinator Mike Martz's offense.
• The agent for Detroit Lions defensive end Cliff Avril is in talks with the team about a long-term contract, according to Tim Twentyman of the team's website.
• Avril doesn't want the Lions to use their franchise tag to keep him, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick isn't surprised by the success of Lions coach Jim Schwartz. Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com explains.
• Financial troubles facing the NBA's Target Center in Minneapolis are proving a hurdle in the Minnesota Vikings' stadium drive, writes Maya Rao of the Star Tribune.

In lieu of an otherwise meaningless Friday injury report, let's update the NFC North's top personnel issues for Sunday's games:

• Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said his initial plan was to play all three quarterbacks Sunday against the Detroit Lions. But on Friday, he stopped short of saying that Aaron Rodgers would start. It stands to reason that backup Matt Flynn will take his place, and get the majority of snaps even if Rodgers makes a token appearance, and that presumptive 2012 backup Graham Harrell will also get some work.
• McCarthy did confirm that several prominent players have been ruled out for the game: Receiver Greg Jennings (knee), running back James Starks (knee/ankle) and receiver Randall Cobb (groin). Right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) is doubtful and unlikely to play. Cornerback Charles Woodson (knee) and linebacker Clay Matthews (ankle) are both questionable, paving the way for them to rest Sunday as well. Left tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring/back), tight end Jermichael Finley (knee) and defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (concussion) will all be available.
• The Detroit Lions practiced outdoors Friday in preparation for playing at Lambeau Field, where they haven't won since 1991.
• The Lions got safety Louis Delmas (knee) back to practice for the first time in more than a month. He is doubtful for Sunday's game but it was a good sign for his playoff availability. Cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder) is also doubtful. Cornerback Chris Houston, who had a cast on his hand earlier this week, is questionable.
• The Chicago Bears listed running back Marion Barber (calf) as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee) as questionable. Barber didn't practice all week and is unlikely to play. Urlacher probably will play.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier confirmed that tailback Adrian Peterson had surgery Friday on his injured left knee and was "resting comfortably."

Sifting through Wednesday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Running back Marion Barber (calf), tight end Kellen Davis (illness), defensive end Julius Peppers (not injury related) and linebacker Brian Urlacher (knee) did not practice. Barber doesn't seem likely to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, coach Lovie Smith was angered by questions about the future of offensive coordinator Mike Martz and wouldn't answer. Martz's contract expires after this season.

Detroit Lions: Cornerback Chris Houston was wearing a cast on his left hand but told reporters he injured his pinky finger and does not have a fracture. Hmmmm. Coach Jim Schwartz said it wasn't a long-term injury. Houston, safety Louis Delmas (knee), receiver Calvin Johnson (Achilles), defensive tackle Corey Williams (hip) and defensive end Willie Young (ankle) did not practice.

Green Bay Packers: Tight end Jermichael Finley reported knee soreness Wednesday and did not participate in practice. Neither did offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga (knee), receiver Randall Cobb (groin) nor running back James Starks (knee/ankle). Receiver Greg Jennings ran on the side during practice but was declared out for Sunday's game against the Lions. Offensive lineman Chad Clifton (hamstring/back) practiced. So did defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, who has been cleared after suffering a concussion earlier this month.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Christian Ponder (concussion) was cleared to practice after and will start Sunday against the Bears, according to coach Leslie Frazier. Left guard Steve Hutchinson, who was placed on injured reserve this week because of a concussion, will "have some decisions he'll have to make after this season is over," according to coach Leslie Frazier. That suggests retirement could be an option.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It's decision time for Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy. I'm guessing he's already made it, even if he was vague on the details in the aftermath of Sunday night's 35-21 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Will McCarthy rest and protect his starters in the Packers' otherwise meaningless Week 17 game against the Detroit Lions? Or will he keep full throttle on a record-breaking season in hopes of entering the playoffs on the highest note possible?

McCarthy is already on record this season as saying the Packers "won't play scared" in their remaining regular-season games, and indications were that he was prepared to push for a perfect 16-0 season if the opportunity availed. But that possibility ended Dec. 18 in Kansas City, and the Packers' victory Sunday night locked up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The Lions, on the other hand, will have substantial incentive next weekend -- knowing that a victory would aid their chances for the No. 5 seed in the playoffs and lead to a better wild-card matchup than if they were the sixth seed. A Lions victory, in fact, could be the difference between a trip to the Superdome to play the New Orleans Saints (as the No. 6 seed) or playing at the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants (as the No. 5 seed).

McCarthy continued his tough talk Sunday night, but for the first time offered a caveat that suggests he won't do anything rash, especially with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, to secure a victory over the Lions.

"I'm not going to stand here and tell you we're going to give away an opportunity to win a game," McCarthy said. "We're going to play to win the game next week. I'm not real excited about a division opponent coming in here and thinking we're not going to do everything we can to get to 15-1. But health is an issue for us and I think that's stating the obvious."

Added Rodgers: "I think we need to get healthy. That's the most important thing. This was a good win for us to get back on the right track [and] get the No. 1 seed obviously. Now that we have the top seed locked up, I think the priorities may shift a little."

It stands to reason that the Packers won't play any of the starters who have been nursing injuries or haven't played in recent weeks. That list includes running back James Starks, who left Sunday night's game again because of his troublesome sprained ankle, receiver Greg Jennings (knee) and perhaps right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee).

But the real question is whether McCarthy will play healthy stars such Rodgers, cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker Clay Matthews. The Thanksgiving Day game between the teams was a chippy affair that led to a pair of ejections, most notably for Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and it would be understandable if McCarthy wanted to hide the women and children from a motivated Lions team.

When I asked him if healthy starters would play against the Lions, McCarthy said: "I don't have an answer for you. I need to see how the players get in here tomorrow and it usually takes until Tuesday to really get a handle on a projection of who's available and who is at risk and who isn't."

Rodgers and Woodson, two veterans McCarthy often leans on for advice, both deferred to the coach on this issue. Woodson said "I anticipate playing," a natural response for any player, but Rodgers offered a more nuanced answer that suggested he wouldn't be surprised to have a lighter load next week or potentially sit out altogether.

"I think that's going to be up to Mike depending on how he wants to play it," Rodgers said. "We'll fall in line. I think as a close friend of [backup Matt Flynn], I wouldn't mind seeing him get an opportunity to play a little bit. But I'll definitely do whatever Mike says."

Asked if he hoped to play for a chance to match Tom Brady's NFL record of 50 touchdown passes in a season, Rodgers said: "I think that's safe." He has 45 this season after throwing a career-high five against the Bears.

With all due respect to the rest of the Packers' roster, Rodgers is the central figure in this debate. He is the one player to whom an injury would absolutely and unequivocally end the Packers' Super Bowl hopes. A patchwork offensive line kept him pretty clean Sunday night -- he wasn't sacked and was hit once -- but we all know how active the Lions' defensive line can be.

I get how abhorrent the idea of pulling back might sound to McCarthy and perhaps others in the Packers organization. And I think I understand the value of entering the playoffs on a high note. The Packers did just that last season, beating a Bears team in Week 17 that played to win despite having its playoff seed locked up, and rode the momentum to Super Bowl XLV.

The Packers had no choice then. They do now. If their only goal is to win the Super Bowl, it's hard to envision how beating the Lions at all costs in Week 17 is going to help. And it would almost certainly take four quarters of participation from starters to secure, knowing the Lions have come back from deficits of 13 points or more four times this season.

"There's something to be said for finishing the season well," Rodgers said. "The Bears tried to keep us out of the playoffs last year, last game of the year. It would be nice to finish out the season the way we started, with a strong showing in a home game.

"That being said, you have to take into account the health of your football team. We have some guys banged up. We'll see what Mike says this week."

I'm not sure if McCarthy will announce it publicly, but I have a hard time believing he won't pull back. Maybe it will help a division rival earn a better seed. That's not the Packers concern right now. Getting to the playoffs unscathed should be their only priority.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Some thoughts on a rare blowout between NFC North rivals:

What it means: The Green Bay Packers improved to 14-1, setting a franchise record for victories in a season and clinching home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. They'll have a decision to make on how to approach Week 17, which will carry no playoff implications for them. Coach Mike McCarthy has previously indicated he wouldn't veer from his regular lineup in that situation, but we'll see. The injury-devastated Chicago Bears lost their fifth consecutive game and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

RivalryWatch: The Packers have now swept the Bears in the teams' season series in two of the past three years. Overall, the Packers have won five of the past six games between the two teams. It was the biggest margin of defeat for either team in the series since their second meeting in 2007, a 35-7 Bears victory.

RodgersWatch: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had the first five-touchdown game of his career, throwing two apiece to receivers Jordy Nelson and James Jones and another to tight end Jermichael Finley. Rodgers completed his first eight passes and finished 21 of 29 for 283 yards. Along the way, he broke Lynn Dickey's franchise record for passing yards in a season and now has 4,739. He also extended his team record for touchdown passes in a season; he's now at 45. Finally, Rodgers set a new NFL record by recording a 13th game with a passer rating of at least 100.0 in a single season. Sunday's rating was a cool 142.7.

McCownWatch: Bears quarterback Josh McCown performed much more credibly than I'm sure most people expected. I suppose some of you might be turned off by his dunk over the crossbar after taking in a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter. I thought it was fun. This is a guy that hadn't started a game since 2007 and began the fall coaching high school football. McCown never imagined he would be starting a game again on national television. Give him a break. The Bears smartly limited his opportunities with a steady diet of running plays in the first half and into the third quarter. Bears running back Kahlil Bell ran hard and had 121 yards on 23 carries, and overall the Bears rushed for 199 yards. But that sort of offense can't keep up with the opponents go on a scoring spree. That began midway through the third quarter, a 21-0 run that quashed the Bears' game plan.

Injury report: Packers running back James Starks again left with an ankle injury that looks like it's going to be a factor for a while. This has been going on for more than a month. The Bears lost right tackle Lance Louis to a illness in the first half and he returned only as part of a goal-line set thereafter. Frank Omiyale replaced him at right tackle.

What's next: The Packers will host the Detroit Lions next Sunday in a game that will have relevance only for the Lions, whose postseason seeding -- No. 5 or No. 6 -- has yet to be determined. The Bears will close out this disappointing season with a game at the Minnesota Vikings.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge on Week 16:

Busted rivalry: When the NFL released its schedule this spring, many of us had high expectations for a late-December matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Instead, an injury-devastated Bears team will limp north as a (deserved) 13-point underdog. It's possible the Packers will have clinched home-field advantage even before taking the field Sunday night, if the San Francisco 49ers lose Saturday at the Seattle Seahawks. If not, the Packers will attempt to secure it against a team playing without quarterback Jay Cutler, running backs Matt Forte and Marion Barber, and receiver Johnny Knox. Third-string running back Kahlil Bell is expected to start, pairing with third-string quarterback Josh McCown -- who has a history of helping the Packers' playoff positioning. (See: Noooooooooooooooo!) One other interesting bit of history: The Packers are one of five teams in NFL history to open a season 13-0 and then lose in their 14th game. All four of the other teams lost their 15th game, too. That list includes the 2009 and 2005 Indianapolis Colts, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 1998 Denver Broncos.

Packers' run game: For several reasons, Sunday night's game would be an obvious target for the Packers to try to enhance their running game. James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion) are expected to return. The Packers will start a makeshift offensive line that likely will include T.J. Lang at right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard; the best way for offensive linemen to get comfortable is via run blocking. And it's also worth repeating that the Bears historically have done a good job limiting Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' downfield opportunities. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Rodgers has completed only five of 26 attempts on throws against the Bears that traveled in the air 21 yards or more. He's thrown for one touchdown, a game-winner to receiver Greg Jennings in 2009, and two interceptions on those passes.

Detroit's challenge: The Detroit Lions will clinch a playoff spot Saturday if they beat the San Diego Chargers in what will likely be a raucous atmosphere at Ford Field. (There are also several scenarios to clinch this weekend even if they lose. They're noted in this post.) Hopefully everyone knows the Chargers are on one of their annual December rolls. They've won three consecutive games after a six-game losing streak. Since Norv Turner took the head coaching job in 2007, the Chargers are 20-2 in December. This will be no cakewalk.

Big targets: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers struggled earlier this season, but he has been the NFL's most efficient quarterback over the past three weeks based on Total Quarterback Rating. Rivers has hit a groove with a pair of 6-foot-5 receivers that will pose significant matchup problems for the Lions. Malcom Floyd has 11 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns over the past two games, while Vincent Jackson has caught 12 passes for 211 yards and a touchdown. Jackson has been sidelined in practice this week by a groin injury. Lions cornerback Chris Houston (knee) clearly wasn't 100 percent last week against the Oakland Raiders, and the team re-signed Brandon McDonald this week for extra depth. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) also remains sidelined, and backup Chris Harris was cleared Thursday to practice following a concussion.

Make it stop: If you're a big-picture observer, you see ample motivation for the Minnesota Vikings to lose Sunday at the Washington Redskins. One more victory by the Indianapolis Colts, in conjunction with two more Vikings defeats, would give the Vikings an excellent chance to secure the No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft. A loss to the Redskins would extend the Vikings' losing streak to seven games, tying a franchise record set in their expansion season of 1961. But I'm not sure what would be worse: tying that record or extending their NFL record of games without an interception, which stands at nine. Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman has thrown at least one interception in his past 10 starts, and he is tied for the second-most interceptions in the NFL (18) despite missing three games this season. Something's got to give.

Checking in on Thursday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: Tight end Kellen Davis (back) and defensive end Julius Peppers (not injury related) returned to practice Thursday. Still missing were linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle), running back Marion Barber (calf) and kick returner/receiver Devin Hester (ankle). None have been ruled out for Sunday's game at Lambeau Field.

Detroit Lions: Cornerback Don Carey (concussion), safety Louis Delmas (knee), defensive tackle Nick Fairley (foot), defensive tackle Corey Williams (hip) and defensive end Willie Young (ankle) all missed practice. The Lions re-signed cornerback Brandon McDonald to bolster their depth as Carey's concussion lingers.

Green Bay Packers: Running backs James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion) participated fully in practice and should be ready to play Sunday night. Linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) and offensive lineman Chad Clifton (hamstring/back) made it through their second consecutive day of practice. Defensive lineman Howard Green (foot) was limited in practice. Defensive end Ryan Pickett (concussion) has still not been cleared.

Minnesota Vikings: The decision by USC quarterback Matt Barkley to return to school could have an indirect impact on the Vikings. If the Vikings ultimately want to trade down from their perch atop the first round, it would have helped to have another blue-chip quarterback to increase the value of their pick. Meanwhile, cornerback Asher Allen and guard Steve Hutchinson (concussion) missed practice for the second consecutive day.

Taking a look at Wednesday's newsbits in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears: A high number of prominent players didn't practice Wednesday. The list included running back Marion Barber (calf), linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle), tight end Kellen Davis (back), receiver Devin Hester (ankle), defensive tackle Henry Melton (shin) and defensive end Julius Peppers (not injury related). Melton doesn't appear to have a great chance to play Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit Lions: Safety Louis Delmas (knee), defensive tackle Corey Williams (hip), right tackle Gosder Cherilus and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (neck) didn't practice. It doesn't appear that Delmas will be ready for Saturday's game against the San Diego Chargers.

Green Bay Packers: Left tackle Chad Clifton finally returned to practice Wednesday but it's almost impossible to imagine him playing Sunday against the Bears. Instead, T.J. Lang is likely to start at right tackle with Evan Dietrich-Smith at Lang's left guard spot. The healthy backups will be Ray Dominguez and newcomer Herb Taylor. Running back James Starks practice an could be on track to play Sunday. Running back Brandon Saine (concussion) also practiced, as did linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf). Defensive end Ryan Pickett (concussion) did not.

Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback Asher Allen and guard Steve Hutchinson both sat out practice Wednesday because of concussions. Joe Berger would start for Hutchinson if he can't play Saturday against the Washington Redskins.

KANSAS CITY -- The Green Bay Packers will look for their 14th victory of the season Sunday without two of their top tailbacks.

James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion) were both deactivated for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Starks missed two days of practice last week and Saine didn't practice at all.

The Packers will use Ryan Grant and John Kuhn as their primary runners. That's not an ideal number, but it's not an untenable situation for one game.

Others on the inactive list: Quarterback Graham Harrell, linebacker Desmond Bishop, tackle Chad Clifton, defensive end Ryan Pickett and receiver Greg Jennings.

KANSAS CITY -- Greetings from Arrowhead Stadium on an unusually warm December day where the high is forecast to reach, yes, 59 degrees. Sunscreen for everyone!

We'll have more information soon for you on the status of Green Bay Packers running backs James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion), both of whom are game-time decisions, and right guard Josh Sitton, who seems to have a decent chance to start after a two-week absence caused by a knee injury.

Finally, we'll soon post a module for the live chat ESPNChicago.com will host during Sunday's game between the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. I won't be involved, but feel free to jump in if it suits your fancy. Back in a bit.

Getting inside the NFC North's Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Receiver Devin Hester tweaked his ankle this week and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. Defensive lineman Henry Melton (shin) is also questionable and unlikely to play.

Detroit Lions: Cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder) and defensive end Lawrence Jackson (thigh) are doubtful and not expected to play Sunday at the Oakland Raiders. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) is questionable, but his status is less clear. Also questionable are linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring), defensive lineman Nick Fairley (foot), running back Kevin Smith (ankle) and cornerback Eric Wright (hamstring). Smith and Wright seem to have decent chances to play. Cornerback Chris Houston (knee) is probable and should play.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers ruled out defensive lineman Ryan Pickett (concussion), and won't take him on their trip to the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. Linebacker Desmond Bishop (calf) was also ruled out, but linebacker A.J. Hawk (calf) is probable. The Packers will make game-time decisions on two running backs: James Starks (ankle) and Brandon Saine (concussion). If neither can play, the Packers will go with Ryan Grant and John Kuhn as their running backs for Sunday's game. Guard Josh Sitton (knee) appears to be a go, but is technically listed as questionable. Meanwhile, the Chiefs confirmed that Kyle Orton will start at quarterback for them, his second start against the Packers this season. Orton also started in Week 4 while playing for the Denver Broncos.

Minnesota Vikings: Every player on the 53-man roster, except cornerback Chris Cook, will be available for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. That includes running back Adrian Peterson, who has missed three consecutive games because of a high ankle sprain. Coach Leslie Frazier said that Peterson's snaps could be limited depending on soreness.