GREEN BAY — Having lost three wide receivers to injuries in the first two practices of training camp — and the pads haven't even come on yet — the Green Bay Packers' pass-catching ranks are already a bit thin.

And while James Jones was in no way trying to tell the Packers' braintrust what to do, he did point out that his old friend Donald Driver, who also happens to be the franchise's all-time leading receiver, is still in shape — and hasn't filed his retirement paperwork.

The Packers lost rookie wide receiver Sederrick Cunningham to a dislocated wrist on Friday, then saw seventh-round draft picks Charles Johnson and Kevin Dorsey each leave Saturday's practice with leg injuries. That leaves eight healthy wide receivers for Sunday's practice.

Driver, of course, retired in February and had his remarkable career celebrated at an event inside the Lambeau Field atrium. He said earlier this offseason that the only team he'd come out of retirement for is the Packers and said his agent has fielded calls from teams asking if he was truly retired.

"I just came from his golf outing down in Houston. He tells me every day how much he's staying in shape, and I tell him every day, 'Why did you retire? If you still wanted to play, you should've still tried to play. Don't let nobody walk you away from the game if you can still try to play,'" Jones said after practice Saturday. "But at the time he felt like he was done and didn't want to play football anymore. I talked to him in Houston, and he said, 'Man, I didn't want to play football anymore. I felt like I was done. Me and Ted (Thompson) and Mike (McCarthy) and everybody was on the same page.'"

Midway through Saturday's practice, the seventh-round pick ran a slant route, Graham Harrell's pass was thrown behind him and Johnson's leg stuck in the turf. He stayed on the ground for several moments before walking off under his own power. After practice, coach Mike McCarthy didn't have an update on the promising young receiver.

In the locker room, Johnson himself was unsure if this pain in his knee was serious. He said he'll undergo a MRI soon.

"I'm not really aware," Johnson said. "I think it's just a scare because I feel alright now. But they're professionals. They're going to get me the right treatments and everything. I'll know at a later date if it's a scare or serious."

Kevin Dorsey's got a hammy, according to the article.

This is a tad revolting:

JSO



Kevin Dorsey's got a hammy, according to the article.

3 guys that were not going to make the team any way.

Gives the remaining 8 guys more reps but of course that means more work for Jones Nelson and Cobb who are locks anyway. A few more bodies means less exposure for those three.

These are guys with insane measurables.

They'll make the PS if nothing else. Could be kick returners too.

Everyone the roster has the potential to be an NFL player or they wouldn't be there. I'm not saying I am not disappointed that they were injured. Of course I would much rather have them out there showing what they can do. Besides that what kind of heel doesn't feel bad for someone who gets hurt like that. Its just that its three guys this year and next year it will be three others and the year after that three others. Its great if one of them pans out (I'm sure I may have felt the same way about Donald Driver at one point being a 7th rounder and all) but for the most part it's not worth it for me to get too excited about any of them. That way when one does break out (Ala DD) its a nice surprise. Unfortunately there are more David Clowneys (remember him and how good he looked for a while) than there are Donald Drivers.

I don't remember Clowney looking that good. I just remember thinking he was very fast. He was very raw, un-polished, and a poor route runner, otherwise.

I don't remember Clowney looking that good. I just remember thinking he was very fast. He was very raw, un-polished, and a poor route runner, otherwise.

Exactly. Just like these other late round picks/UDFA that people get excited about and then the vast majority of them disappear.

You may not remember him looking that good but I recall seeing several articles and such touting him as a possible breakout player.

Okay you meant article love... that's a different story. I remember Clowney getting a ton of pre-training camp article love... speed/size will normaly get you article love just like Johnson got some because of his speed/size. Though Clowney got more, probably because he was a higher pick and the Packers were more WR needy at the time and it was right after Jennings broke out as a rookie, so media thought another guy might break out as a rookie as well.

I found it very strange that Clowney was getting to much love in the media while James Jones (slow guy but draft two rounds higher) was being almost being ignored as far as media love. They just covered him when they talked abotu Clowney speed. I felt bad for Jones then... glad he's gotten some love since

People loooove speed.