GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers are back on the field for the first time since their NFC Championship Game collapse against the Seattle Seahawks. It started with the first organized team activity session on Wednesday.
On Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy opens the gates to fans (weather permitting) and the media.
Here are some things to keep an eye on during the OTA practice, which starts at 11:30 a.m. CT:
Nelson's status: Jordy Nelson underwent hip surgery shortly after last season, but McCarthy was vague about it at the NFL annual meetings earlier this offseason. We should get a better idea of the severity both from seeing whether the Pro Bowl receiver can take part in practice and hearing from him in the locker room, when players are available en masse for the first time since the day after the NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks. We also should get an update on the progress of several other players coming off injuries such as receiver Jared Abbrederis (torn ACL), offensive lineman Don Barclay (torn ACL), defensive tackle Khyri Thornton (hamstring) and defensive tackle B.J. Raji (ruptured biceps tendon).
Matthews inside or outside: Despite McCarthy's insistence that Clay Matthews is an outside linebacker ("He's a pass-rusher; that's his premium position," McCarthy said after last month's draft) there's reason to think he still will play his share of snaps at inside linebacker just as he did in the second half of last season. Matthews has been splitting his time between the two position groups during the early portion of the offseason program. And given that the Packers waited until the fourth round, when they took Michigan's Jake Ryan, to take an inside linebacker, it looks like they intended all along to play Matthews at both spots.
McCarthy's duties: In the past, you could almost always find McCarthy standing next to the quarterbacks during team (11-on-11) practice periods. But now that he's no longer the play caller, he intends to spend more time in other areas. That has already started in meetings. He has been with the defense and special teams more this offseason. Now we'll see what his approach to practice looks like.
First action for Randall: First-round pick Damarious Randall missed both practices of the rookie orientation camp because of an ankle injury he sustained during a workout prior to the draft. McCarthy said at the time that he expected Randall to join the offseason program soon after the rookie camp.
Cornerback carousel: With long-time starter Tramon Williams now in Cleveland, Casey Hayward is expected to get the first crack at the starting left cornerback job. However, Randall and second-round pick Quinten Rollins could factor into the competition. So could third-year pro Micah Hyde.