Special to the Tribune
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers coach Mike McCarthy called it a "polluted mindset" to worry about whether the Bears will play their starters all 60 minutes Sunday. By the time the teams meet at 3:15 p.m., Chicago could be locked in at the No. 2 seed and have nothing to play for.
McCarthy's players all echoed his sentiments.
"My approach is going to be the same as it's been all year," right guard Josh Sitton said. "We're going to play our next football game and it's our most important, obviously. It's a playoff game for us.
"I'm not thinking about who's going to play, who's going to play how long. Whatever happens, happens."
Bears return ace Devin Hester is having his best year yet, averaging 17.1 yards per punt return, 35.6 yards on kickoffs while scoring three touchdowns, including one against Green Bay on Sept. 27. It would be a surprise if the Packers let him touch the ball in the return game.
"I don't think so," said Jarrett Bush, a key player on Green Bay's coverage units. "We'll see as the game goes on, but for the most part, probably not. Probably not going to get a chance. And if he does, it's going to be an accident."
McCarthy also called Hester, "the best player on their football team."
? Odds and ends: McCarthy said, "I really don't have a pulse on where he is right now," when asked about the availability of standout defensive end Cullen Jenkins. Jenkins has missed the last three weeks with a calf injury. ... Packers return man Sam Shields didn't practice Wednesday after his knee flared up Monday. ... Bears running back Matt Forte, who has 1,465 total yards and nine touchdowns, has certainly caught Green Bay's attention. "He does a very good job with the yards after the hit, very good coming out of the backfield, does a nice job in their protection pickups." ... Pro Bowl left tackle Chad Clifton, who will line up against Bears' Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers on Sunday, didn't practice. But Clifton, 34, is typically given Wednesday off to rest his ailing knees. ... Defensive end Cullen Jenkins, who has missed the past three games with a calf injury, didn't practice. Neither did Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins (rib) and starting outside linebacker Frank Zombo (knee). ... Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the NFC's Player of the Week for his performance in the 45-17 win over the New York Giants in Week 16.
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/packers-report-lt-clifton-sits-out-practice.html
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