Tom Silverstein

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers worked out a pair of tight ends Tuesday, but coach Mike McCarthy indicated Wednesday that his intention was to go with just Richard Rodgers and Justin Perillo on Sunday night against the New York Giants.

Jared Cook was still on crutches Monday after suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 25 and isn't likely to play for a while. Cook essentially had taken over the starting job from Rodgers and assumed a role similar to what Jermichael Finley once had in McCarthy's offense.

Rodgers would be the starter against the Giants and his only backup would be Perillo, who saw his most playing time this year against the Lions after Cook got hurt.

POLL: Should Green Bay sign former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., who wants to play for the Packers?

"That's the plan, as I stand here today," McCarthy said of going with just Rodgers and Perillo.

The Packers worked out veteran tight end Rob Housler and undrafted free agent J.P. Holtz on Tuesday but did not sign either.

The 6-5½, 248-pound Housler, a third-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2011, last played for the Chicago Bears. He was signed on Dec. 8 and played in four games last year, catching three passes for 27 yards. Before that, he had played six games with the Cleveland Browns, whose tight ends coach at the time was Brian Angelichio, the Packers' current tight ends coach.

The Bears released Housler on the cut-down to 53, and he has been a free agent ever since.

The 6-3, 240-pound Holtz played at the University of Pittsburgh and caught 81 passes for 931 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Browns signed him after the draft and released him on the cut-down to 53.

The Packers also worked out rookie outside linebacker Christian French, who had spent a short time with the Seattle Seahawks this spring.