Mike McCarthy
Both Tramon Williams (ankle) and Sam Shields (knee) didn’t practice for a second straight day on Thursday and their status for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers is in doubt.
Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters on Thursday that there was no change in the two players’ status from Wednesday. Then, he said Williams was ahead of Shields in recovering from their injuries.
The Packers don’t practice today, but will work tomorrow before facing the Panthers on Sunday.
Defensive end Datone Jones (ankle) also didn’t practice on Thursday after trying to give his ankle a go on Wednesday. Mike McCarthy said, “He made some progress at practice Saturday, but it’s not coming along.”
If Shields and Williams are unable to play Sunday, Davon House and Casey Hayward would take their place in the starting lineup.
For Carolina, seven players missed practice because of injury, including starting wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin who has been sidelined with a concussion.
Panthers Defense
The Carolina Panthers have given up 37 or more points in three of their last four games and a big reason why is having to do without Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy is out indefinitely awaiting his appeal on a domestic violence conviction.
The Panthers were ranked 2nd in the league defensively last season and have fallen to 26th so far this season. They also led the NFL in sacks in 2013 with 60. They’ll be lucky to reach 40 this year.
AUDIO: Ron Rivera said the Panthers on defense is a work in progress :15