ATLANTA -- The Green Bay Packers sure could have used Sam Shields in Sunday's NFC Championship Game and if it's up the veteran cornerback, he will be back on the field next season even though he still hasn't been cleared from the concussion he sustained in the regular-season opener.

Shields, who has been in Florida since shortly after he went on injured reserve in October, watched the 44-21 loss to the Falcons at the Georgia Dome, where the Packers had no answer for Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and the rest of Atlanta's high-powered offense.

He said is still experiencing symptoms from the fourth known concussion of his NFL career.

“Some days it's tough headaches, some days it's mild,” he said after the game. “It varies. I never know. I'm so used to it that it's just normal. Like I said, each day it's getting better. I'll be back.”

Shields has one season left on the four-year, $39 million contract he signed with the Packers in 2014. He's scheduled to make $9 million next season, but the Packers could wipe that off their 2017 salary cap if they released him. They would only have to count $3.125 million of his prorated signing bonus on their cap.

He hopes it doesn't come to that.

“I'm thinking it's not over,” Shields said. “I've still got more in me. But like I said, I'm going through this, what I've got to go through. Just take it one day at a time.”

His latest concussion came on Sept. 11 at Jacksonville, and he never returned. It occurred nine months after he sustained one that kept him out for a month late in the 2015 season. He has played in only two of the Packers' last 23 games, including playoffs.

When asked why he wants to continue to play, Shields said: “I understand why you ask that. I don't know. I just love the game, man, and I feel that I can get back out there and play. If not, then not. But right now it's just day by day.”

Shields' legal issues also could cloud his future. He's facing drug charges stemming from an incident last year in Green Bay.

Shields' injury was one of several that rocked the cornerback position this season. Damarious Randall missed six games because of a groin injury and battled several other ailments, and Quinten Rollins had two separate stints where he missed three games (groin injury) and the first two playoff games (neck/concussion). Demetri Goodson lasted just six games before he tore his ACL and MCL.

It forced former undrafted free agent LaDarius Gunter into a much larger role. Gunter played well at times this season but couldn't contain Jones (nine catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns) on Sunday. Ryan threw for 392 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another.