Starks looking forward to playing Thursday in Detroit

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GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers' running back James Starks figures he can play against the Lions in Detroit tomorrow -- as long as he deal with the pain from his latest injuries.

Starks sprained his right knee and ankle in last Sunday's home win over Tampa Bay. He felt pain while testing his right leg at practice yesterday, but he said has to start tolerating pain a little better. Coach Mike McCarthy says he'll determine Starks' playing status tomorrow.

Meanwhile, receiver Greg Jennings has been cleared to play against the Lions. He bruised a shin last Sunday. Linebacker Frank Zombo returned to practice yesterday after being out two weeks with a torn hamstring. McCarthy is not sure yet if Zombo can play against the Lions. Linebacker Desmond Bishop was added to the injury report with a bad calf, but he expects to play tomorrow.

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The Green Bay Packers were to have a short practice today, before flying to Detroit for their much-anticipated Thanksgiving clash with the Lions. It will be Aaron Rodgers' first visit to Ford Field since he suffered his last concussion there. It came in the second quarter of a 7-3 Packers' loss on December 12th, when Rodgers got knocked out while running for a first down. It was his second concussion of 2010, and it kept him out of a game the following week at New England. Yesterday, Rodgers said he learned a huge lesson -- and that's to slide after he rushes for a first down, so defenders cannot legally touch him. Rodgers says he can hurt the Packers if he's not taking care of himself -- and he may as well slide after getting the first down, because he won't make too many defenders miss him anyway. This year, Rodgers has avoided big hits out of the pocket -- partially because he's running less. He has 48 scrambles in 10 games, averaging just under four yards per carry. Last season, he rushed 64 times in 15 games for a better average of five-point-six yards. The Packers are 10-0, and will face a 7-3 Lions' team.

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The architect of Green Bay's Super Bowl teams from the 1990's is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame. Former general manager Ron Wolf is among 26 modern-era candidates. The list will be reduced to 15 in early January, and two finalists will also be nominated from the Hall-of-Fame's seniors' committee. Wolf is officially nominated as a "contributor" for his personnel roles with the Raiders, Tampa Bay, the Jets, and finally the Packers from 1991-2001. Wolf is a member of the Packers' Hall-of-Fame -- and his name is next to Green Bay's other national enshrinees on the ring around the luxury boxes at Lambeau Field. Between four-and-seven people are chosen each year to join the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame in Canton Ohio -- and no more than five can be from the modern-era. Also nominated is Packers' linebackers' coach Kevin Greene, for his playing days with the Rams, Pittsburgh, Carolina, and San Francisco.

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