Green Bay Packers - PlayerWatch

[October 06, 2016]  TE Richard Rodgers has had the door opened to be the primary tight end with Jared Cook sidelined by an ankle injury. Rodgers' role in his third pro season had been diminished after the Packers made Cook their lone free-agent acquisition of significance in the offseason. Cook was supposed to give Aaron Rodgers a big-play target over the middle of the field but had only six catches for 53 yards on the season before leaving with the sprained ankle in the first half of the Week 3 win over the Detroit Lions. Richard Rodgers made his first start of the season in that game. Yet, he hasn't been productive with only five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown through three games. Just a season ago, Rodgers flourished with 58 catches for 510 yards and eight touchdowns. "We have all of the confidence in the world in Rich," receiver Jordy Nelson said Wednesday. "There's not a person that's second-guessed anything when Jared went down, which we don't want, but it's part of the game. We expect Rich to do what he does. He's got great hands and creates separation and makes the plays that we need him to make."

CB Damarious Randall was a new addition to the injury report Wednesday. The second-year starter has a groin injury, which made him a limited practice participant Wednesday. It's unknown whether the injury could impact Randall's availability for the game Sunday night.

TE Jared Cook is sidelined indefinitely because of an injury to his right ankle and isn't expected to play Sunday night against the Giants. The veteran suffered the setback in the pre-bye victory over the Lions on Sept. 25. Richard Rodgers will be Green Bay's top tight end going forward until Cook returns.

NT Letroy Guion practiced Wednesday after returning to the field two days earlier. The veteran starter had been out since sustaining an injury to his left knee in the Week 2 loss at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 18. Guion was listed as having limited work Wednesday, so more on his status for Sunday night's game against the Giants won't be known until later in the week.

OLB Clay Matthews practiced Wednesday, albeit in limited fashion, and looks to be on track to play Sunday night against the New York Giants. The defensive standout returned to the field Monday after the team's bye week. Matthews missed the pre-bye win over the Detroit Lions on Sept. 25 because of ankle and hamstring injuries.

CB Sam Shields remained out Wednesday, not a promising sign for his availability against the Giants on Sunday night. The veteran starter has been sidelined since suffering a concussion in the season-opening victory at the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 11. Without Shields, the Packers would continue to rely on a young trio of Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter as their top cornerbacks against a prolific Giants passing attack.

SS Morgan Burnett continued to practice Wednesday after getting back on the field Monday. The veteran starter missed the pre-bye week win over the Lions because of a groin injury.

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