GREEN BAY – Mark Tauscher knew he wasn’t going to be on the field for the Green Bay Packers his first two weeks back with the team, but the veteran right tackle is ready to get off the sideline and into the action this Sunday at Tampa Bay.

 

While Tauscher wouldn’t divulge the official news that he’ll be replacing Allen Barbre as the starter – that allegedly remains undecided at this point – he certainly sounded like a guy anxious to get back to work.

 

First, the full injury report from Thursday’s practice:

 

PACKERS

Brandon Chillar, LB Hand Out

Chad Clifton, T Ankle Full Participation

Donald Driver, WR Neck Did Not Participate

Jermichael Finley, TE Knee Did Not Participate

Korey Hall, FB Calf Limited Participation

Derrick Martin, S Concussion Did Not Participate

Jordy Nelson, WR Knee Did Not Participate

Aaron Rodgers, QB Feet Did Not Participate

Jason Spitz, C/G Back Did Not Participate

Charles Woodson, CB Hip Full Participation

 

BUCCANEERS

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Antonio Bryant, WR Knee Limited Participation

Michael Clayton, WR Wrist Full Participation

Elbert Mack, CB Ankle Limited Participation

Aqib Talib, CB Ankle Full Participation

Jeremy Zuttah, G Shoulder Full Participation

 

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Tauscher and Clifton “have put together two good practices” but stopped short of officially naming them starters for Sunday’s game against the 0-7 Buccaneers. “We're definitely further ahead than the past two weeks, as far as their availability and the production. I think they've done a good job.”

 

Rodgers did not practice for the second straight day but is expected to work some on Friday, McCarthy said. The coach seemed unconcerned about Rodgers’ missed practice time.

 

“I think we're on pace for the same plan we talked about at the beginning of the week,” McCarthy said. “I anticipate that he'll do some work tomorrow in the practice, but I fully anticipate that he'll play.”

 

Driver’s status after suffering a stinger last Sunday sounded slightly less certain. Asked if he thinks Driver will practice on Friday, McCarthy responded, “I hope so. Donald doesn't miss practice, so we'll see where he is tomorrow.” However, McCarthy said he “definitely would consider playing Donald without any practice.”

 

Meanwhile, McCarthy said Nelson, who hasn’t played since Oct. 18, “looked good” during his rehabilitation work with the training staff. “That would be great to have Jordy back next week, but we'll see what our medical people say,” McCarthy said. “I went in there at the beginning of practice and watched him work today. I would say he's close. I'm not a doctor, but from what I saw I thought he was close.“

 

McCarthy said he thinks Nelson is further ahead of Finley at this point.

 

As for Tauscher, he said he’s in “good shape” and said he’s been doing extra conditioning work to make up for the time he missed while unsigned this offseason.

 

“There’s a lot of extra work, especially when I wasn’t playing, that goes into it. And I think as you get older, you have to put more and more energy into those things than when you’re 25,” the 32-year-old Tauscher said. “I knew the first two weeks I wasn’t going to play, and I knew that I needed to work and do a lot of things to get myself ready. We talked about that the day I signed. The first week I was going to be gently brought back into it, then do a bunch of scout reps that next week and then from that point on see how things progressed.”

 

As for his knee, Tauscher said, “I’ve been practicing now for three full weeks, so it’s been a process. Gradually every day I feel better and better and I haven’t had the issues that sometimes come up when you really are banging on it. So I’m very pleased with the progress I’ve been making.”

 

Tauscher said that if he indeed starts against the Buccaneers, “I’m definitely (excited). It’s been a long, difficult road. So yeah, it will be a big deal.”