Packers punter Tim Masthay finished the regular season with a net of 40.2, which ranked 14 th in the NFL and first all-time in Green Bay. Credit: Mark Hoffman

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Green Bay — Craig Hentrich, Josh Bidwell and Jon Ryan all enjoyed successful runs as the Green Bay Packers' punter in the last 20 years.

None of them, however, even challenged the franchise record for net punting average that was set by Jerry Norton in 1963. In fact, no one ever had come within a yard of Norton's 39.2-yard net.

Tim Masthay didn't just break the record that Norton had held for 52 years. He shattered it.

Masthay finished the regular season with a net of 40.2, which ranked 14th in the NFL and first all-time in Green Bay, where gusting winds and at times partially frozen footballs traditionally have combined to prevent punters from placing high in the league rankings.

"I think Tim bought into whatever he can to help this football team," said Ron Zook, the first-year coordinator of special teams. "Very, very unselfish. We've asked him to do some things rather than worry about gross punt. Let's get net."

Masthay's previous best ranking in net average was 17th in 2010. His previous best net average was 39.0 in 2013.

Masthay's gross average of 43.9 tied for the fourth-highest in his six-year career. His rank of 25th tied for his fourth-highest.

Certainly, Masthay didn't excel in preventing touchbacks, where his ratio of six in 81 punts ranked 23rd, or in his inside-the-20 rate of 18 in 81, which ranked 31st.

His best statistic was the 174 total yards returned by opponents, which ranked sixth and was due in part to outstanding performance on the perimeter by Jeff Janis and Demetri Goodson. They proved to be worthy successors to departed gunners Jarrett Bush and Davon House.

"The other thing is our guys have covered extremely well," Zook said. "We had two guys that we didn't know we were going to be able to replace.

"When you've got guys that can cover like that, that takes a little pressure off Tim as well. We've protected and we've covered. I'm happy for Tim. He's about the team."

Masthay's average hang time was 4.11 seconds.

On the outside:David Bakhtiari (ankle) walked without a limp through the locker room Friday but wouldn't comment about his availability Sunday for the NFC wild-card playoff game in Washington.

He was listed as questionable.

If Bakhtiari misses a third straight game, it appears likely there will be a third new replacement. Don Barclay seems out of the picture and coach Mike McCarthy said Josh Sitton would return to left guard, leaving JC Tretter as the logical sub against the Redskins.

Tretter has played 345 snaps at center, 16 at right tackle, nine at tight end and three at guard. Despite not playing any left tackle since last season, he's ready to go if Bakhtiari sits.

"I've obviously played it in the past and I got some reps there this week," said Tretter. "I have no idea what will happen. There's so many moving parts. I'm ready for all five. You never know what it's going to be."

Running back Eddie Lacy has grown accustomed to playing with backup offensive linemen.

On the mend: Defensive end Datone Jones said he has been diagnosed with an injury to his trapezius muscle on the left side of his neck and shoulder area. He received a second medical opinion earlier in the week and will travel with the team but won't play Sunday.

"I got checked out and I'm good to go," said Jones. "I'm playing next year. I'm waiting to see what the team doctor (Patrick McKenzie) says."

Jones said he "probably" wouldn't be able to play if the Packers advance in the playoffs.

He was injured late in the second quarter Sunday against Minnesota on a pass rush when he came into contact with guard Mike Harris, his former teammate at UCLA.

"I was pretty sore the week before, too," said Jones. "It happened. I was just, 'Wow.'"

Injury report: Cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) didn't participate all week and is doubtful. This would be his fourth straight missed game.

"When you're talking about a concussion it's obviously different than other injuries," said McCarthy. "Until he comes through the protocol that's just where we are."

Linebacker Jayrone Elliott (thigh) and Jones won't play but were listed as questionable. It will be the second missed game for Elliott, who doubted he would require surgery.

Tight end Justin Perillo (hamstring) was questionable, too. Thirteen players were probable.

Redskins coach Jay Gruden listed running back Matt Jones (hip) as questionable but indicated that he probably wouldn't play. Safety Dashon Goldson (shoulder-rib), linebacker Perry Riley (foot) and cornerback Quinton Dunbar (thigh) also were questionable.

Long snappers: Long snapper Brett Goode underwent surgery Dec. 28 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. McKenzie performed the operation.

Goode, whose contract expires after the season, will be an unrestricted free agent.

His replacement, rookie Rick Lovato, has a two-year, $885,000 minimum deal that runs through 2016.

"I have no idea what they'll do," Lovato said. "I want this job and I'm going to battle for it. I want to keep going, so whatever it takes I want to keep winning this job."

Lovato has snapped without incident in the two games since Goode was injured in Oakland.

"I haven't been timing my snaps," said Lovato. "I focus more on accuracy. The NFL is all about consistency."

The Packers completed the regular season with $6.954 million of room beneath their adjusted salary cap of $151.47 million. It is expected that they will roll over that amount onto their 2016 cap.

Only 10 teams finished the season with more cap space.

All-pro: The Packers were shut out on the first team of The Associated Press All-Pro team.

Sitton made second team with 11 votes, which was third at guard behind Baltimore's Marshal Yanda (37) and Pittsburgh's David DeCastro (13).

Only three other Packers received votes from a panel of 50 media members: Clay Matthews had four at inside linebacker, T.J. Lang had one at guard and John Kuhn had one at fullback.

PACKERS NET PUNTING LEADERS

Here are the Packers' leaders in net punting average since 1954.

Year Name No. Gross Net TB In 20 Bl 2015 Tim Masthay 81 43.9 40.2 6 18 0 1963 Jerry Norton 51 44.7 39.2 3 12 0 2013 Tim Masthay 64 44.6 39.0 5 22 0 2012 Tim Masthay 70 43.5 38.9 5 30 1 2011 Tim Masthay 55 44.6 38.6 4 23 0 1969 Donny Anderson 58 40.2 38.5 2 21 0 1957 Dick Deschaine 63 42.0 38.0 5 18 2 1968 Donny Anderson 59 40.0 37.8 3 15 0 1955 Dick Deschaine 56 43.2 37.8 4 19 0 2010 Tim Masthay 71 43.9 37.6 5 25 0 2007 Jon Ryan 60 44.4 37.6 11 18 2

Sources: Packers media guide and "Green Bay Packers: A Measure of Greatness," Eric Goska, 2004.