GREEN BAY – With Aaron Kampman and Brady Poppinga both having been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, rookie seventh-round pick Brad Jones will get the start at left outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers.

 

More on Jones in a moment, but first, the full official injury report:

 

PACKERS

PLAYER                       INJURY             WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY/FRIDAY PARTICIPATION                   STATUS

Jake Allen, WR              Quadricep         Full Participation Full Participation Full Participation                     Probable

Allen Barbre, T               Concussion       Limited Participation Full Participation Full Participation                Probable

Brandon Chillar, LB        Hand                 Did Not Participate Did Not Participate Limited Participation          Questionable

Chad Clifton, T               Not Inj. Related (Not Listed) (Not Listed) Limited Participation                               N/A

Jermichael Finley, TE     Knee                 Did Not Participate Did Not Participate Did Not Participate            Out

Korey Hall, FB               Calf                   Full Participation Full Participation Full Participation                     Probable

Cullen Jenkins, DE         Ankle                Limited Participation Limited Participation Full Participation           Probable

Aaron Kampman, LB      Concussion       Did Not Participate Did Not Participate Did Not Participate            Out

Derrick Martin, S            Concussion       Full Participation Full Participation Full Participation                     Probable

Jordy Nelson, WR          Knee Limited     Participation Full Participation Full Participation                            Probable

Brady Poppinga, LB       Quadricep         Did Not Participate Did Not Participate Did Not Participate            Out

Aaron Rodgers, QB        Feet                  Limited Participation Full Participation Full Participation                Probable

Mark Tauscher, T           Knee                 Did Not Participate Did Not Participate Did Not Participate            Out

Charles Woodson, CB    Hip                   Limited Participation Full Participation Full Participation                Probable

 

COWBOYS

PLAYER                       INJURY             WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY/FRIDAY PARTICIPATION                   STATUS

Marion Barber, RB         Thumb              Full Participation Full Participation Full Participation                     Probable

Andre Gurode, C            Ankle                Did Not Participate Limited Participation Full Participation             Probable

Ken Hamlin, S               Groin                Did Not Participate Limited Participation Full Participation             Probable

Allen Rossum, CB         Hamstring         Did Not Participate Did Not Participate Did Not Participate            Out

Gerald Sensabaugh, S   Thumb              Full Participation Full Participation Full Participation                     Probable

DeMarcus Ware, LB       Foot                  Full Participation Full Participation Full Participation                     Probable

 

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said that team doctor John Gray doesn’t think Kampman might improve over the weekend and be cleared to play, while Poppinga suffered a strange injury when he took a cleat to the thigh, which apparently caused bizarre swelling that has not abated.

 

Asked about Kampman, McCarthy said the medical staff “is not very comfortable with the progress that he's made.”

 

McCarthy said he likes what he’s seen from Jones in practice this week, and defensive coordinator Dom Capers likened him to former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Chad Brown, who excelled in Capers’ scheme.

 

“I think he’s got some naturalness rushing the passer,” Capers said. “Some of the good pass rushers have flexibility in their body where they can kind of contort their body. They can get skinny, get their hips around, get their shoulders by a guy, and those are the things that I noticed about Chad Brown when he first came to the Steelers. I’ve seen some of those same types of things with Brad in terms of his rush ability.”

Jones failed his physical at the start of camp and didn’t begin practicing until Aug. 17, but the coaches opted for him over oft-injured Jeremy Thompson with Kampman and Poppinga sidelined.

 

“He’s practiced well the last three days, and we’ve seen some things out of him up to this point in time in terms of instincts,” Capers said. “I think he’s got enough toughness and we’ll just have to see. He’s going to get some opportunities. Like a lot of young guys, you’ve got to seize those opportunities when they come. We could end up with two rookie outside linebackers this game.

 

“Thompson is in the mix; we’ve worked him. Again, we just like some of the things Brad’s done in terms of rushing the passer. He’s played well on special teams. Normally, good defensive players that are perimeter players, you put them on special teams, they show up on special teams. … Brad’s done well to this point. We’ll give him an opportunity to see what he can do on Sunday.”

 

As for other injured players, McCarthy intimated that Nelson, who hasn’t played since Oct. 18 against Detroit, will be back to returning punts and kickoffs.

 

“I'd rather not say that today. But yeah, you won't be surprised who's out there,” McCarthy said.

 

Chillar practiced, is listed as questionable and McCarthy said he “definitely has a chance to play. Now, I'm not certain what his role will be. We'll probably take these next 48 hours and visit with him and I'll probably talk to him tonight based on once I get all the information. But he felt good today in practice with the club.”

 

Asked about playing Sunday, Chillar called it “a little far-fetched right now.”

 

McCarthy also confirmed what WBAY-TV in Green Bay reported earlier this week, that center Jason Spitz underwent lower back surgery on Tuesday. McCarthy wouldn’t divulge specifics of the surgery – “I just know the one nerve needed to be released,” he said – but the station reported that Spitz had a herniated disk repaired.