GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -The Green Bay Packers got through the first two weeks of the season without two offensive linemen they were counting on to be starters.
Now Scott Wells and Josh Sitton are back at practice, at least in limited fashion, and there’s a chance Wells could be ready for the marquee matchup with Dallas on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.
Having more healthy players is a good thing, but the return of Wells and Sitton will present coaches with a dilemma: Do they stick with the current line that has developed enough chemistry to get the Packers to 2-0, or go back to the drawing board to make sure their best five linemen are on the field?
As of Wednesday, there was no clear answer – and that probably will be the case until after practice Friday.
football for us, so if we like what we see, it is definitely an option for him to play.”
Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher remain anchors for the Packers’ line, although Clifton’s continued knee soreness limited him in practice Wednesday. Tauscher is coming off an uneven performance in the Packers’ victory at Detroit on Sunday.
The interior of the Packers’ line has been subject to change throughout training camp.
Wells was injured for the Packers’ first preseason game, but Green Bay used what seemed to be its preferred starting lineup in its second preseason game at San Francisco: Wells at center, Jason Spitz at left guard and Sitton, a rookie who rose quickly up the depth chart in training camp, at right guard.
Wells aggravated his persistent lower back injury against the 49ers, and Sitton hurt his knee in the Packers’ third preseason game at Denver. So for their first two regular-season games, the Packers moved Spitz to center, with Daryn Colledge at left guard and Tony Moll at right guard.
The Packers’ patchwork line has provided good protection for Aaron Rodgers, who has been sacked only once in the first two games, but the running game has been up and down.
If Wells is healthy and coaches are convinced he can stay that way, the Packers could be tempted to do more shuffling.
“It’s just something we’re used to,” Spitz said. “If we’ve got to rotate, we rotate.”
Colledge says he doesn’t know which position he’ll be playing Sunday.
“They haven’t told me yet,” he said. “I got to play a little left tackle today, a little left guard. I’m just going through the paces. I’ve got to learn every spot, just like everybody else, because who knows what’s going to happen. We’ve got a long time until Sunday.”
Colledge said the uncertainly is just a continuation of the juggling that happened throughout training camp.
“It’s kind of musical chairs for us,” Colledge said. “Everybody on this offensive line can play a different position, everybody’s had to at different times. So, we’re comfortable left, right, center. We’re going to just put the five on the field and make it work.”
Rodgers said Wells’ return is coming at the right time, with a tough Dallas defense coming to town with a 3-4 alignment the Packers have had trouble with in the past.
“Scotty looks like he’s going to come back this week,” Rodgers said. “That definitely helps our line out, so that’s an improvement for us, helps us out. I think the guys have been doing a great job, though, one sack in two games. And really, the sack is more on me because I held the ball a little too long.”
McCarthy said there is “a chance” Wells can play Sunday.
“The whole thing is with the padded work today and tomorrow, we want to see Scott do as much as we can,” McCarthy said. “It’s just a matter if he can go through both practices. That decision will probably be made after Friday, but we’re repping him accordingly.”
McCarthy said Wells is ahead of Sitton in his rehabilitation. Sitton expects to be able to play soon, but isn’t making any assumptions about his role once he returns.
“There’s no job up here that’s locked up, especially in my situation,” Sitton said. “But I’m trying not to look at it in a negative way. I’m just trying to look at it as, I’m back, getting healthy, and I’ve got to move forward and compete.”
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