Report: Joe Philbin to attend Sunday

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Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will "participate" in top-seeded Green Bay's divisional playoff game against the New York Giants on Sunday, according to a report by CBS Sports.

When contacted by ESPN's Bob Holtzman on Sunday morning, the Packers say that no decision has been made about whether Philbin will be at Sunday afternoon's game, and that Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Philbin plan to talk Sunday.

Philbin has been away from the team since his son, 21-year-old Michael T. Philbin, vanished on Sunday. His body was found in a river in Oshkosh, Wis., on Monday and initial autopsy results indicate that he drowned.

On Saturday, CBS Sports' Lesley Visser said she spoke with Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who told Visser that Philbin would be in attendance Sunday.

"I just spoke with coach Mike McCarthy, and he said Joe Philbin will be (at Lambeau Field) tomorrow, in Mike McCarthy's words, 'to participate,' " Visser said at halftime of CBS' broadcast of the Patriots-Broncos game Saturday.

No one expected Philbin to be anywhere but with his family when the Packers face the Giants, but defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said Friday he wouldn't be surprised if Philbin shows up for the game.

"Nobody's expecting that at all because we know his family needs him right now," Pickett told The Associated Press. "But we miss him. Of course we miss coach, everybody misses him around the building. But we know his family needs him more."

McCarthy acknowledged Friday that it has been a rough week for everyone.

"It's challenging, no question about it," McCarthy told The AP. "But as we talked as a team on Wednesday, it's important to separate your professional and personal life. Sometimes, it's not possible. We managed it."

If the Packers (15-1) win Sunday, they will host No. 2 seed San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game next weekend.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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