Packers Roundup: Green looks to be the running back for the future after no trades

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GREEN BAY - The NFL trade deadline came-and-went yesterday with no moves by the Green Bay Packers.

That’s not a surprise, because general manager Ted Thompson is traditionally protective of his future draft picks. And he reportedly would have had to give up a third-rounder for a much-needed running back like veteran Stephen Jackson – who stays with the Saint Louis Rams despite talk that he was on the block. For now, it appears that Coach Mike McCarthy will stay with second-year pro Alex Green at the tailback position. He has averaged less than two-and-a-half yards per carry in his last three games. And the Packers as a team are averaging just three-point-seven yards per carry this season – the fourth-worst in the NFC.

It’s been a while since Green Bay has had a 100-yard performance, and the man who could have done it – Cedric Benson – is out at least until late in the season with a severe foot injury. Third-year pro James Starks has only had a handful of carries since returning from a turf-toe injury. So that leaves it to Green to take pressure off the passing game, and keep the defense honest. Green says he sees the holes – but he must do a better job of pressing them, and making quicker reads. He says the offensive line is doing a great job – and it’s up to him to take advantage. The 5-3 Packers will host 4-4 Arizona on Sunday. __________________________________________________________________________

The Packers might be short on defensive linemen for their Sunday home contest against Arizona. Rookie Jerel Worthy has not practiced all week after suffering a concussion last Sunday against Jacksonville. Mike Neal is still a question mark with an ankle injury suffered against the Jaguars. And B-J Raji just came back from a sprained ankle. Coach Mike McCarthy says he might only have one spare lineman available for the Cardinals’ game, making a total of four available. Meanwhile, receiver Jordy Nelson will have his injured hamstring re-evaluated today. He sat out the Jaguars’ game a week ago, but he hopes to return for the Cardinals’ game. And McCarthy says receiver Greg Jennings could return in a couple weeks, after he had surgery yesterday to fix a lingering groin injury first suffered in the season opener against San Francisco.

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Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been named the NFC’s player-of-the-month on offense. It’s the sixth time he won the honor – and that ties him with Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Barry Sanders, Steve Young, and Bruce Smith for the most player-of-the-month awards since they were created in 1986. Rodgers had a passer rating of 121-point-five in October, as he helped Green Bay recover from a 2-and-3 record with three straight victories. Rodgers completed 69-percent of his passes during the month. Also, Packers’ corner Casey Hayward was named the NFL’s defensive rookie-of-the-month. He had four interceptions in three games, a first for a Green Bay rookie since Tom Flynn in 1984.

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