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Notebook: Jones' status iffy after sore knee flares

By Pete Dougherty • pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com • November 21, 2008

Receiver James Jones had more problems with his injured knee after practice Thursday, leaving his status for Monday night's game at New Orleans up in the air.

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Jones has been in and out of the lineup since he sustained a torn posterior cruciate ligament against Dallas on Sept. 21. He played in the past two games but aggravated the injury last week against Chicago and in practice Thursday.

McCarthy held Jones out of most of practice Friday and listed him as questionable (50 percent chance of playing) on the Packers' injury report.

"He had a setback," McCarthy said, "and the medical staff felt that based on (Thursday's) work it would be best for him just to go through the jog-through and go through rehab."

Among McCarthy's concerns when determining his eight inactive players for Monday night is the possibility Jones would have to leave the game if he aggravates the injury. Last week, McCarthy suited up only four of his five receivers against Chicago even though all were healthy, and if he does so again this week, an injury to any of them would leave that position short-handed. The fourth spot this season has come down to either Jones or Ruvell Martin.

Wynn hurt

DeShawn Wynn, the Packers' No. 3 halfback, injured a calf muscle in practice Thursday, had only limited participation Friday and also is questionable for Monday night.

Wynn is one of three players who injured calf muscles in practice this week — the others are defensive end Aaron Kampman, who's listed as probable, and safety Charlie Peprah, who's questionable.

"We talked about (the calf injuries) at length this morning with the medical staff, and they're individual cases," McCarthy said. "You always look at any type of injury, if there's a pattern. We've made adjustments in our training. They've assured me that they feel they're just individual cases. We're doing everything we can from a preventive standpoint to deal with it, but injuries are part of our business."

The Packers' only other player in danger of missing Monday night's game is backup cornerback Jarrett Bush, who's questionable with a sprained ankle.

Harris A-OK

Cornerback Al Harris appears to have no aftereffects from the torn spleen that sidelined him for four games this season. Harris has started all three games since returning after the Packers' bye week and has allowed only one completion.

"We haven't even talked about his injury, frankly," McCarthy said. "He's such a great conditioned athlete and does all the extra things on the field at practice. He's really just come right back and picked up where he left off."

Saints injury update

New Orleans held halfback Reggie Bush out of practice Friday and listed him as questionable, though coach Sean Payton continued to express optimism to reporters in New Orleans that Bush will be able to play Monday night.

Bush, who has missed the last three games because of a knee injury, had limited participation in practice Thursday, and Payton said he had planned to give Bush the day off Friday no matter what because the game isn't until Monday.

"We're just hopeful that (today) is better news than a week ago," Payton said. "We'll see where it's at."

The Saints listed two players as out — cornerback Aaron Glenn (ankle) and fullback Mike Karney (knee) — and had no one else in much danger of missing Monday night's game.

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