The Packers (7-3) released their injury update Friday for this week’s game against the New York Giants (6-4) and there weren’t any real surprises.
OLB Clay Matthews (hamstring), DB Charles Woodson (collarbone) and CB Sam Shields (ankle) are out, although coach Mike McCarthy had already made that clear earlier in the week. Backup LB Terrell Manning (shoulder) is also out.
Matthews, who was injured in Green Bay’s Week 9 win over the Cardinals, has a history of hamstring problems and needs at least another week to rest and fully heal. McCarthy on Friday said, “We want to make sure that when Clay is back he's back for good.”
As for Woodson, who was hurt in the Week 7 win over the Rams, he’s run receiver routes with the offense in practice, but is still not cleared to play defense. McCarthy has said he’s progressing more quickly than expected, but there’s no timetable for his return.
Shields suffered what was considered a shin injury in the Week 5 win against the Texans. In the last few weeks, it’s been listed as an ankle injury. He was questionable to play last week against the Lions, but McCarthy said Wednesday he’d had a setback and ruled out the third-year CB. It’s unclear now how long he’ll be out.
In more encouraging news, WR Greg Jennings (groin/abdomen) is listed as questionable to play at New York. Jennings, who hurt his groin in the season-opener and had surgery Nov. 1 to repair a torn abdominal muscle, was a limited participant in practice all week. It’s unlikely he’ll play Sunday. He rushed back too soon from the injury earlier in the season and the Packers will no doubt want to make sure he’s fully healed before letting him on the field again.
"(Jennings) feels real good coming off practice yesterday," McCarthy said on Friday. "He wanted to work today. We said we'd sit down tomorrow and talk to Dr. (Pat) McKenzie and just see how he's feeling. The one concern is durability. That's the last hurdle we need to get over.”
TE Andrew Quarless (knee), who was on the physically unable to perform list to start the season, is questionable. He injured his knee late last season and spent the offseason recovering from surgery. He was only activated to the 53-man roster on Nov. 7. It’s possible he aggravated the knee injury, or his limited participation in practice all week may have just been precautionary.
The rest of the players on the Packers’ injury report are probable: WR Donald Driver (thumb) and FB John Kuhn (hamstring) were limited all week; DT B.J. Raji (ankle), LB Vic So'oto (illness) and LB Erik Walden (ankle) were all full participants on Thursday and Friday.
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.
