Afternoon State Sports Briefs: Packers Raji will not play vs. Rams

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ST. LOUIS - Green Bay Packers’ nose tackle B.J. Raji was hoping to return on Sunday at Saint Louis, but he won’t. Raji injured an ankle two weeks ago at Indianapolis – and coach Mike McCarthy said an exam this morning showed that he’s not ready, so he’s been ruled out for the Rams’ game.

Receiver Greg Jennings is also out for a third straight week with his lingering groin injury. But McCarthy says Jennings is getting better – and he hopes his star wide-out can play next week at home against Jacksonville. Linebacker Nick Perry and corner Sam Shields are also ruled out for the Rams’ game, after injuries last Sunday night at Houston. Shields has shin-and-ankle problems, while the rookie Perry is getting over an injured knee. Six other Packers are listed as probable for Sunday’s contest – Sean Richardson, Jermichael Finley, D.J. Williams, Davon House, Alex Green, and Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was a full participant in today’s practice, after he hurt a calf last Sunday night. Green was a limited participant with a shoulder problem. McCarthy also said that running back Johnny White had a good week of practice, after signing with the Pack on Monday. He could play on special teams against the Rams. Also the coach said tight end Andrew Quarless and linebacker Frank Zombo did well at practice this week. Both came off the physically-unable-to-perform list this week.

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A rash of injuries is creating a ripple effect on the Packers. Rookie Casey Hayward and linebacker Brad Jones are among those stepping up to replace injured players on defense. And that means Jones, Hayward, and some others won’t be as available for special teams’ duty. Players at the end of the Packers’ bench – like Sean Richardson and Terrell Manning – will get more field time covering punts and kickoffs. Green Bay special teams’ coach Shawn Slocum says those who haven’t played much should get some good quality time with his units – and he expects them to perform well. Slocum could also make use of the newly-acquired running back Johnny White. He was signed off waivers this week – and even though he’s still learning the offense, he could be activated for special teams’ duty on Sunday, when the Packers play the Rams in Saint Louis.

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Four teams will try to grab at least a share of first place tomorrow in the Northern Athletics Conference football standings. Concordia-Chicago is 3-0, and four other teams are at 2-1 – Wisconsin Lutheran, Concordia-Mequon, Lakeland, and Aurora. Concordia-Chicago can keep sole possession of first with a home win over Aurora tomorrow. Wisconsin Lutheran hosts Benedictine. Concordia-Mequon is at Lakeland. And Maranatha Baptist plays at Rockford. In the Midwest Conference, Ripon College travels to Beloit tomorrow. Lawrence hosts Monmouth. Carroll entertains Grinnell. And first-place Lake Forest will try to go 7-0 in league play when it hosts Cornell. Second-place Saint Norbert has the day off. The Green Knights improved to 5-1 after trouncing Lawrence last week 79-7. In the CCIW, Carthage will host North Central tomorrow night. Carthage is tied for fifth place at 1-2. The Red Men are 3-3 overall.

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The Milwaukee Admirals will open their American Hockey League home scheduled tonight against Charlotte. The Admirals are 1-0, after a one-goal victory at Grand Rapids last Friday night. Defenseman Jeff Foss is out indefinitely for the Admirals. He suffered a lower-body injury in the pre-season, and he did not play in last week’s win over Grand Rapids. Foss had surgery on Tuesday. Charlotte is 1-0-0-1, and they went 4-4 against the Admirals last season. A pre-game ceremony will be held this evening to honor Brian Murphy and Sam Lenda of the Oak Creek Police Department. Murphy was shot multiple times during the August fifth shooting massacre at the Sikh Temple, and officer Lenda wounded the gunman before he killed himself. Tonight’s game is one of three on the docket for the Admirals this weekend. They’re at San Antonio tomorrow night, and at Houston on Sunday evening.

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SCORES

In Wisconsin high school football…

Brookwood 32, Riverdale 7

Chetek-Weyerhaeuser 22, Spring Valley 8

Columbus 27, Mayville 20

Tags: wisconsin sports, sports, proam, packers