Tom Silverstein

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

GREEN BAY - For the second straight day, the Green Bay Packers practiced without cornerbacks Sam Shields (concussion) and Josh Hawkins (hamstring), leaving Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and LaDarius Gunter as the three remaining true corners with safety Micah Hyde available to play the slot.

Coach Mike McCarthy had no update on Shields, whose prospects for playing Sunday at Minnesota don't look very good considering he was not even at practice to watch Thursday. Hawkins also wasn't around and isn't expected to play.

The injuries at corner may not have moved the Packers to switch practice squad rookie Herb Waters from wide receiver to cornerback, but it does help them get through practice. Waters was probably evaluated during camp as someone who would be better suited for corner than receiver and may have been told the switch was going to happen before he signed to the practice squad.

This might not be a bad week to be down two corners since the Vikings will probably go with newly acquired Sam Bradford at quarterback and are likely to highlight running back Adrian Peterson, who has had some big games against the Packers. They may try to spread the Packers out with multiple receivers, but you'd have to think they would run Peterson out of those sets quite a bit.

Coach Mike McCarthy said prior to practice that he wasn't concerned with cornerback numbers.

"Yes, just the way we’re working yesterday and today, so far so good," he said.

In addition to Shields and Hawkins, safety Chris Banjo (hamstring) and Jayrone Elliott (hamstring) sat out practice again, also. Those are the only four players whose injuries would prevent them from playing Sunday.