Running back Ahman Green and tackle Mark Tauscher, both recently re-signed by the Green Bay Packers, will be ready to play in time for this Sunday’s rematch against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field.
Green said he expects to play against the Vikings and Tauscher got some snaps at right tackle in place of starter Allen Barbre. While this is definitely good news for the Packers, neither of these guys has played a game in nearly a year, so it’s unlikely they’ll see extended action Sunday.
“That’s really part of the course that we’ve taken with both,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Just the ability to work them up to the point where everybody’s comfortable with them being ready. I can’t simulate live action at this point in the season. We practice hard, our padded practices are physical, but there’s nothing like live action.”
Green, who is 46 yards away from breaking the franchise rushing record, said he’s not sure what his workload will be.
“I’ve got to be ready,” Green said. “If I didn’t think I could still do it, I wouldn’t have been nagging the guys upstairs to bring me back.”
Also ready to go this week is wideout Jake Allen, who was promoted from the practice squad to replace Brett Swain. Swain suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Cleveland Browns. Allen, who will be playing in the first regular season game of his career, will be the Packers fourth wide receiver and could play on special teams.
“He’s ready,” fellow receiver James Jones said. “He’s come a long way, but he works hard, asks questions, watches and he’s gotten a lot better since his first year.”
None of these guys are expected to make a huge impact in Favre Bowl II on Sunday, but Green and Tauscher bring much-needed veteran leadership to a young Packers team and Allen will see the field in four-receiver sets as QB Aaron Rodgers tries to pick apart a vulnerable Vikings pass defense.
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