News & Info/Headlines
Fellow starter Donald Driver, has been ruled out of Sunday’s game, but Ferguson’s sprained right knee and ankle have made faster-than-expected improvements that could allow him to return to practice by Friday.
A return this week would be a remarkably quick turnaround for a player originally ruled out for three to four weeks.
"The swelling is going down, so we’ll wait and see if I can run," Ferguson said. "We’ll evaluate it then."
Ferguson’s return would be a major boost for a receiving corps that would have only three legitimate receivers -- Antonio Freeman, Javon Walker and Chris Jackson -- without him.
Freeman and Jackson were signed Wednesday morning after lengthy stints out of football. Kick returner Antonio Chatman can play receiver, but at 5-foot-9, he is limited because of his size.
"(Ferguson did) nothing today, but we’re hoping he can go out and practice on Friday," offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said after Wednesday’s practice.
Head coach Mike Sherman listed Ferguson as questionable on the injury report, meaning he has a 50 percent chance of playing.
Driver won’t play this week and probably will miss next week’s game at Arizona as well. He was released from the hospital on Tuesday after a two-night stay following a scary fall on his head in the fourth quarter against the Vikings. Driver was at the team’s facilities on Wednesday, wearing a brace to immobilize his neck and head.
In addition to soreness in his neck, Driver continued to experience symptoms that commonly follow a concussion. He no longer feels nauseous, but he still has headaches.
"Things are coming together better now than they had previously," Sherman said of Driver. "He seemed to be fairly encouraged, and previously he was fairly discouraged."
Also of interest. ...
Wesley Walls experienced almost no pain from his injured hamstring during Wednesday’s practice and likely will be upgraded to probable on the injury report.
"He had a good practice," Rossley said. "He said at times he didn’t feel it at all and other times he felt it, but I don’t think it bothered him a whole lot."
Walls sat out Sunday's game after sustaining the injury in practice a week ago. If Walls can play, the Packers probably will activate all three tight ends for Sunday’s game.