Weston Hodkiewicz

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The Green Bay Packers received some good news when defensive lineman Datone Jones and running back James Starks were cleared to take part in Thursday's padded practice.

Both players are nursing ankle injuries, with Jones missing the Packers' last two games. He last practiced on Oct. 15 before suffering a setback. Thursday was his first padded work since spraining his right ankle against Minnesota on Oct. 2.

Starks' ankle flared up in the second half of Sunday's 38-17 win over Carolina, forcing him out of practice on Wednesday.

Safety Morgan Burnett (calf) and cornerback Sam Shields (knee) were the only players to not participate. As he did Wednesday, Shields stretched with the team before to the start of practice.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy was scheduled to speak to the media after practice.

-- whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.