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Green Bay - A blizzard of big plays turned Vic So'oto into a fan favorite literally overnight. The undrafted outside linebacker from Brigham Young University wreaked havoc in the Green Bay Packers' preseason finale. An interception returned for a touchdown. One and a half sacks. A forced fumble.

Right here was the Packers' answer to a viable pass rush opposite Clay Matthews.

But So'oto has played one down on defense since.

A back injury and inability to crack special teams units has held So'oto back through six games.

On Sunday in Minnesota, he may finally get his shot. Outside linebackers Frank Zombo (knee) and Jamari Lattimore (shoulder) are both expected to miss the NFC North tilt, which would vault So'oto to the active roster. This week, he has worked on the No. 1 kickoff and punt return teams.

"I'm excited," said So'oto, who has been inactive in five of Green Bay's games. "Hopefully I get a shot."

So'oto did it all in college. At BYU, he played defensive end, tight end and even some linebacker. One thing So'oto didn't do? Participate on kick and kick return coverages.

His special teams contributions, period, were scarce. Now - to get on the field in the NFL and haunt quarterbacks as he planned - that's the key.

"The quickest way to get on the field is special teams," So'oto said. "If you're activated and someone goes down, they'll throw you in there. Special teams hasn't been my strongest suit. It's something I've been working on a lot with Coach Slocum and in practice just trying to go hard."

Against the Vikings, outside linebacker Erik Walden will most likely resume his full-time role at outside linebacker, but coaches may be tempted to give So'oto the green light on Green Bay's inconsistent pass rush. The Packers' starting two edge rushers have combined for just three sacks.

So'oto was a one-man wrecking crew in Green Bay's 20-19 preseason win over Kansas City but even he is quick to note the preseason is, well, the preseason. It's been an uphill climb since that Sept. 1 night.

Before the opener, he suffered a back injury. "Something with my discs," So'oto said. After plenty of icing, flexibility and core work, he says his back is at "120 percent." Now, it's a matter of getting on the field.

"Yeah, it's definitely frustrating," So'oto said. "But I've been on the sideline with 'KG' (Kevin Greene), and he's been coaching me up during the plays that Erik and Clay are playing. So I've been able to take mental reps and talk on the sideline.

"I can see things I wouldn't have saw if I was out there. So it's just progressing slowly and the mental part clearing up."

Running down kicks is a completely new animal for So'oto. A defensive end operating in close quarters in college, he's now sprinting downfield.

Initially, this was awkward, but now it looks like the Packers will need him in some capacity against Minnesota.

"It's different," So'oto said. "You have to be able to maintain your lanes, especially with guys like (Devin) Hester in our division. . . . So staying in your lanes, it's kind of like playing the run. Gap integrity. One guy has one gap and one guy has another gap."

"If I get out there, I'll have a bunch of confidence in what I can do."

Welcome back

For the first time in more than a month, two of the Packers best defensive players practiced with pads on. Both Matthews (quad) and Charles Woodson (foot / knee) were back on the field Thursday - the day coach Mike McCarthy has designated as the team's once-per-week padded practice.

It marks the first time since Sept. 15, the week before the Carolina game that either player has practiced on a Thursday.

Woodson hasn't practiced on a Wednesday or Thursday since before the Panthers game and has been strictly limited on Fridays. Over the same period Matthews has only taken part in two Friday practices as a limited participant.

McCarthy said both players did team drills and were a couple of snaps away from being full participants.

"It's good any time everybody on your football team practices," McCarthy said. "That's why you practice. It definitely helps them with their assignments and the communication with their teammates.

"Everybody at this point knows what their assignments are and what they're supposed to do, but it's really the tempo and speed of the drills and getting ready to play the game because on Sunday the speed is at a different level. It's really staying fine-tuned. It's great to have them out there."

Neither player has missed any game time with their injuries. Whether the injuries have affected their performance is debatable.

Woodson has 26 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups. Matthews also has 26 tackles with just two sacks but does lead all 3-4 outside linebackers in quarterback hits (12) according to Pro Football Focus.

In other injury news, Sam Shields (concussion), Zombo (knee) and Lattimore (shoulder) did not practice.

Lighter in the wallet

Matthews said in an interview with teammate Josh Sitton for ESPN's "Rome is Burning" that he had been fined $5,000 for wearing the wrong colored shoes Sunday against St. Louis.

The Packers wore their 1929 throwback jerseys that feature navy blue tops, brown helmets and tan pants. The shoes that come with the gear are dark brown.

Some players wore white shoes, but used black tape over them so that they were dark and didn't stand out.

Matthews, however, wore bright yellow shoes, which the NFL deemed as inappropriate and a violation of the league's dress code.

In the interview with Sitton, Matthews read out loud the letter he received from the NFL.

Cornerback Tramon Williams also was fined for wearing the bright yellow shoes on Sunday.

Sitton did several interviews Wednesday in the locker room for the show.

House waits

Sitting inside his locker, Davon House scanned the room. Everywhere the cornerback looked, were classmates who have already played.

House, a fourth-round pick, is the only rookie on the 53-man roster who hasn't. Of course it's frustrating.

"It is," House said. "A lot. I'm the only rookie here that hasn't really touched the field."

To be sure, House says he understands why. Veteran cornerbacks Jarrett Bush and Pat Lee are both ahead of him on the depth chart at corner and special teams.

There's no need for a No. 6 corner at the moment. Green Bay has activated House once, against Denver, and he didn't play.

"With what I do on special teams, I'm behind both of them," House said. "It's kind of tough for me, but every week is a new week."

If Sam Shields misses the Packers' game at Minnesota, House could dress.

In the meantime, House continues to serve on the Packers' scout team. Cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. said last week that the rookie needed to improve his "tempo and placement." House is the latest young corner to work under Whitt's development.

"(He tells me) just to keep the intensity up," House said. "Keep playing at a high level. He said that some days, I'll show greatness. Some days it's 'Oh, you can tell he's a rookie.' I want to blend in where it's 'OK, it looks like this guy has been here for a while.' "

Barring injury, it's hard to say when House lines up in the secondary. He's clearly behind Bush and Lee. This wait, even on a pass defense ranked 31st, could be a long one.

"I don't know. I really don't know," House said. "For what I do and where I am, it's tough. This week, now that Sam's a little dinged up, there might be a possibility that I get some special teams work. But I really don't know."

Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.