advertisement

Add James Jones to list of Packers' sore receivers

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Playing receiver for the Green Bay Packers is increasingly becoming a painful job.

Davante Adams remains out of practice with a sprained left ankle. Randall Cobb is limited with a right shoulder injury.

Add James Jones to the injury list this week with a sore hamstring. He was limited in practice for a second straight day as the Packers prepared for Sunday's game against the visiting St. Louis Rams.

An easygoing veteran, Jones brushed away any concern after practice Thursday.

"Ain't nobody limpin', man. I'll be all right," Jones said.

Everybody plays hurt on Sundays, he added.

"You never feel good after the first day of training camp. I'll be fine," he said.

Jones was signed by the Packers the week of the season opener after being cut by the New York Giants. With 17 catches for 317 yards and four touchdowns, Jones has capably filled the void left by Jordy Nelson's season-ending right knee injury in the second preseason game.

What Jones hasn't quite replaced is the threat that Nelson provided on deep passing routes.

At tight end, Andrew Quarless is out for at least another seven weeks with a sprained left MCL.

Quarless had lost his starting job to Richard Rodgers. Still, Quarless provided quarterback Aaron Rodgers with another veteran receiving option and blocker.

Quarless, who is on injured reserve/designated to return, would be eligible to play again in Week 12 on Thanksgiving night against the Chicago Bears. He's encouraged by a recent conversation he had with player personnel director Eliot Wolf.

"Sometimes with injuries, guys tend to rush things and reinjure themselves," Quarless said. "One of his main things was, 'take your time, get healed and we'll be ready for you to come back.'"

Production is coming from other areas.

Richard Rodgers is turning into a viable receiving option with two touchdown catches.

Rookie Ty Montgomery has played well so far in seeing more snaps with Adams sidelined. The running game is averaging 136 yards a game, and backs Eddie Lacy and James Starks are effective check-down options.

The constant through the turnover is Aaron Rodgers. The MVP quarterback has thrown for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions through the first four games.

"So he just does all of the little things right. And when you have a program, your best players have to be your best people," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He makes people around him better."

NOTES: Starting RT Bryan Bulaga was limited for a second straight day in his return from a left knee injury. Position coach James Campen said Bulaga looked good, though no decision has been made on Bulaga's availability for Sunday. ... LB Clay Matthews (quad) was limited. ... S Morgan Burnett (calf) missed practice again.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2015, file photo, Green Bay Packers' James Jones catches a touchdown pass in front of Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman (25) during the first half of an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis. It is getting tough to be a receiver with the Packers. Add Jones to the list of wideouts limited or out of practice this week as the team prepares for a game against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File) The Associated Press
Green Bay Packers tight end Richard Rodgers (82) runs against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite (57) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.