Packers Daily Links: Woodson Cleared for Return

It's official. Defensive back Charles Woodson will play on Saturday against the Vikings. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Veteran Packers defensive back Charles Woodson has been cleared for contact and a return to the Packers lineup this weekend in a Wildcard game against the Minnesota Vikings. "There's no question Woodson brings an element of experience and tackling know-how to a position that has been using a third-year pro (Burnett), a second-year pro (M.D. Jennings) and a rookie (Jerron McMillian)," writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "But it's questionable whether he alone can be the difference in limiting Peterson." Silverstein raises valid concerns, but I think few would argue that he's at least an upgrade over Jennings at the safety position.

More on Charles Woodson comes from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, ESPNMilwaukee.com, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Associated Press, JSOnline and Packers official website.

Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements is reportedly a candidate to interview for the Chicago Bears head coaching job now that Lovie Smith has been fired. "Besides Clements, Phil Emery, the Bears' first-year general manager, will interview special teams coach Keith Armstrong of Atlanta, special teams coach Joe DeCamillis of Dallas, offensive coordinator Mike McCoy of Denver and offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan of Tampa Bay," writes Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel. As McGinn points out, teams cannot prevent assistant coaches from interviewing from head coaching jobs even though Clements was prevented from interviewing for the Bears' coordinator position in the past. As for if and when Clements will interview, nothing has been reported.

More on Tom Clements comes from the Press-Gazette, ESPNMilwaukee.com and Fox Sports Wisconsin.

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson did not practice on Tuesday, putting his status for Saturday's playoff game in question. "Nelson missed practice Tuesday with what presumably is the knee injury that he suffered in the fourth quarter Sunday of the Packers' 37-34 loss to the Minnesota Vikings," according to the Journal Sentinel. Mike McCarthy declined to comment about Nelson's injury and status seeing as NFL teams do not have to offer an injury report until Wednesday when he said he'd have more information. The Packers' wide receiver position is definitely in flux at the moment with the uncertainty of Nelson and Jarrett Boykin and how Randall Cobb and Donald Driver will be used.

Good news comes regarding Randall Cobb. "The Green Bay Packers didn’t have to release an injury report on Tuesday, but Randall Cobb did practice and coach Mike McCarthy “expect(s)” him to play in Saturday night’s playoff game against Minnesota," writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. It remains to be seen if and how much Cobb shares return duties with Jeremy Ross, but he should play at receiver at the very least on Saturday.

More on Randall Cobb comes from the Press-Gazette, ESPNMilwaukee.com and JSOnline.

The future of wide receiver Donald Driver, both in the long-term and for Saturday's game, is covered at the Press-Gazette and ESPNMilwaukee.com.

The challenge of stopping Adrian Peterson gets some attention at Fox Sports Wisconsin, Press-Gazette, JSOnline, ESPNMilwaukee.com, AllGreenBayPackers.com and Packer Report.

Comments from quarterback Aaron Rodgers appear at Fox Sports Wisconsin.

Reports from Vikings headquarters at the Journal Sentinel focus on the Minnesota receivers and kicker Blair Walsh.

Cheesehead TV's own Zach Kruse tackles the topic of Antoine Winfield playing on Saturday in his weekly column at JSOnline.

Former Packers general manager Ron Wolf has been hired as a consultant for the San Diego Chargers as they search for a new general manager and head coach.

The Packers have not forced many turnovers lately in their home playoff games at Lambeau Field, notes ESPN.com NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert.

Momentum and the Vikings are topics covered at Packer Report.

Video: WBAY takes a look at playoff ticket sales and the impact of a home playoff game at Lambeau Field...

WBAY
Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (26)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
cow42's picture

January 02, 2013 at 11:08 am

are we all sure that woodson is better than any of the safeties or corners?

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guenaj15's picture

January 02, 2013 at 11:31 am

I am sure

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Jamie's picture

January 02, 2013 at 02:08 pm

Ummm...how many of our other safeties or corners are Heisman recipients?

Boom

(drops mic)

(pants burps)

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cow42's picture

January 02, 2013 at 02:14 pm

and how many of our other safeties are 37 years old and coming off a second broken clavicle?

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cow42's picture

January 02, 2013 at 02:15 pm

... and haven't played a real football game for almost 3 months?

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Jamie's picture

January 02, 2013 at 02:51 pm

(picks up mic)

And are Heisman recipients...?

(drops mic)

(pants burps)

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cow42's picture

January 02, 2013 at 03:04 pm

I guess i don't understand how an award won 16 years ago can help the packers' defense this Saturday.

WAS woodson great - yes.
IS woodson great - no.

You're argument is like saying that the packers could improve their running game by signing Ron Dayne before this weekend's game.

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Derek's picture

January 02, 2013 at 12:38 pm

just saw on MKE JS online site that Jordy and Finley practiced, along with Woodson, but not Jerel Worthy or Boykin. We should be in good shape for Sat. nite. Time for sweet revenge.

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Evan's picture

January 02, 2013 at 01:58 pm

IR for Worthy.

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Fish/Crane's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:36 pm

Tough thing for Boykin after his clutch catch.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 02, 2013 at 04:10 pm

Woodson is an upgrade over MD, for what we NEED him for, THIS week. His willingness to tackle. He may whiff on a couple, but at least he's not scared of contact like everyone else in the secondary seems to be. I just hope his shoulder doesn't snap on first contact.

GBP 4 LIFE

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lebowski's picture

January 02, 2013 at 04:54 pm

Guess the whole, "you don't tackle, you don't play" mantra goes out the window when it's half the team.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 02, 2013 at 05:55 pm

Sad, but true.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:00 pm

Speaking of which, it's been too long since I've been to a Metallica show...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8MO7fkZc5o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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hayward4president's picture

January 02, 2013 at 04:43 pm

Heisman? How bout DPOY? That wasn't 16 years ago bubbs.

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Jamie's picture

January 02, 2013 at 05:17 pm

Exactly. Ron Dayne never did that, and definitely never broke his clavicle.

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cow42's picture

January 02, 2013 at 05:23 pm

agree to disagree, i guess.

you all seem to think that woodson is still an impact type player.

i think he's just an old corner who's been thrown in at safety because he's too slow to cover wide receivers without cheating (grabbing).

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:07 pm

Anybody else down to tank next season for a crack at Clowney?

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=gC44nP7ClxM&desk...

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:07 pm

Something tells me he'd be happy to tackle AD.

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Ruppert's picture

January 02, 2013 at 09:48 pm

I absolutely love how he just reaches down with one hand, picks up the ball and gets up like nothing even happened. That's one of the best hits in years.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 03, 2013 at 01:40 am

I can't think of a better one!

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hayward4president's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:13 pm

Been watchin clowney a lot this year. He gets better every game. Kids a freak.

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hayward4president's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:14 pm

I also tried to call Ted n tell him to get Watt two years ago....he just never returned my calls.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:25 pm

I'll let him know you know me... He'll return your calls.

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Fish/Crane's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:38 pm

I get one call with Ted a year and wasted it this year on facemask color

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hayward4president's picture

January 02, 2013 at 06:47 pm

I'm not gonna keep my stock if my opinions don't matter. Might as well snag that hard hittin safety from Florida too.

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