The hot August sun was beating down on all of Clarke Hinkle Field as the Green Bay Packers returned for two practices Wednesday, but the spotlight was on defensive tackle Gilbert Brown.
Just 11 days after tearing his right biceps in the Green Bay Packers' second preseason game, Brown returned to the practice field wearing a special brace designed by head trainer Pepper Burruss.
Brown's participation was limited to drills during the first half of the afternoon practice, but he saw some action in 9-on-7. The Packers will check his status in the morning Thursday to determine the next step in his comeback attempt.
"He did a nice job out there," Sherman said. "We'll have to wait and see how he feels tomorrow and whether or not (the arm) swells up."
In addition to Brown, the Packers are also keeping an eye on defensive end Joe Johnson, who per usual sat out the morning session but returned in the afternoon during the full pads practice.
"Some of the older guys I might keep in there once a day, and he's one of those guys," Sherman explained. "What he does is condition, stays off his feet, works his legs on the bikes, does some lifting and stretching exercises, but he's been relegated to one a day."
In the morning practice, Donald Driver surprised the nearly 700 fans lining the fences by snatching a 12-yard pass from Brett Favre out of the air one-handed.
Favre later had a pass intended for Karsten Bailey intercepted by Mike McKenzie on a crossing route in the middle of the field.
In the afternoon practice, linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer jumped in front of tight end Wesley Walls to knock down a pass from Doug Pederson during 9-on-7 drills.
Following special teams drills in which the Packers worked on field goal and goal-line punt situations, quarterback Craig Nall found Carl Ford on a slant pattern in the middle of the field for a 20-yard gain.
Jacoby Shepherd came up with an interception off Akili Smith after linebacker Steve Josue tipped the pass at the line of scrimmage.
Antuan Edwards sped around the right side of the line for a would-be sack on Nall.
As the day progressed and the temperature rose, tempers flared when linebacker Nick Barnett and offensive tackle Mark Tauscher found themselves in a fist-swinging contest.
But even though it caused a brief disruption to practice, quarterback Brett Favre said there is no reason to be alarmed about a rare training camp skirmish.
"It's not tempers so much as it is intensity," Favre said. "Every once in a while you need that. Because those guys are in the locker room and, believe me, they've forgotten about it.
"Tausch was so blown after that play, in the huddle he couldn't breathe. And it's amazing because you know as a player, after you fight like that the next play you're going to be so tired. And then you say, 'What in the hell was I just doing?' You're punching a guy with a helmet on. It does no good ...
"Barnett's going to be a hell of a football player, he just might want to pick on someone a little bit smaller."
In injury news, Jeremy Unertl sat out the afternoon practice with an injured groin ... Najeh Davenport injured his hamstring ... Paris Lenon continues to suffer from a neck injury ... Grey Ruegamer suffered from heat exhaustion and cramping.
The Packers' next public practice will be Thursday (Aug. 21) at Clarke Hinkle Field (weather permitting): 10:45 a.m. (shells) and 1:30 p.m. (special teams - pads), 1:50 (full squad - pads).
Where: Clarke Hinkle Field
Weather: 89 degrees, sunny
Did Not Participate: Reggie Coleman (hip), Tyrone Davis (knee), Jorg Heckenbach (kidneys), Chris Johnson (knee), Rob Johnson (knee), James Lee (hip), Jermaine Petty (knee), Lamar Smith (knee), Marcus Spriggs (knee), Adam Tate (knee).
Click here for the updated training camp schedule.
Click here for information on Packers training camp, including a visitor's guide.
