Packers Roundup: Driver, Jennings realize they won't be back in 2013

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GREEN BAY - Veteran Green Bay Packers’ receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings both say the end is near for them – and it’s tough to deal with.

The 37-year-old Driver saw the writing on the wall last Sunday, when he was inactive for the division-deciding win at Chicago despite being healthy. Jennings was hoping to make a big impression in the final year of his contract – especially after the Packers failed to enter talks on a new deal. But an abdominal tear and surgery slowed him down – and he’s just now starting to catch up. Driver has been used sparingly all year, mostly as an injury replacement. Driver says he might retire at the end of the year from the only team’s he’s ever played for in his 14-year pro career. Jennings hopes to get a big money contract elsewhere. Jennings – who has spent all seven of his NFL seasons in Green Bay – says it’s a sensitive subject, but it’s a bridge that must be crossed at some point.

Jennings and Driver have combined for 119 touchdown catches in their combined 21 years with the Pack – and they’ve made 1,242 catches for 17,742 total receiving yards.

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Nine Packers sat out of yesterday’s practice due to various injuries – and once again, it forced coach Mike McCarthy to alter his routine. He said the practice structure has been about the same for the last three weeks, and the team has been doing about the minimum of what it needs to do to get ready for a game. But he says the team continues to walk-through the plays they’ll use in their upcoming game – and they’re spending more time in the film room. McCarthy vowed that his Packers will be ready to go on Sunday when they host Tennessee. The coach said running back Alex Green and guard T.J Lang both appear to be making progress after getting concussions last Sunday – but both still need to be cleared by an independent expert in order to play against the Titans. Defensive end C.J. Wilson says he’s ready to return from a knee injury, but the Packers are trying to make sure he and veteran defensive back Charles Woodson are 100-percent before they come back. Woodson was expecting to play last Sunday at Chicago, but he was held out as he recovers from a broken collarbone. Green Bay needs to win its final two regular season contests in order to claim the Number-Two NFC playoff seed and a first-round bye. And San Francisco would have to lose at least one of its final two contests.

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The Packers signed corner Otis Merrill to their practice squad yesterday. The Packers signed him this spring after he impressed the coaches at a rookie tryout camp. Merrill had a 60-yard kickoff return in an exhibition game against Cleveland, but he was cut at the end of August – and he never signed with another team. Merrill is an undrafted free agent from Illinois State.

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