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Packers WR Driver participates for first time in training camp

After spending the first three days of training camp sidelined with a shoulder injury, Packers receiver Donald Driver was finally able to practice for the first time on Tuesday.

Driver had been previously unable to pass his physical, but Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Driver wasn't likely to be limited at all during workouts.

"He's clear," McCarthy said. "He has no limitations. We're just being cautious with his shoulder."

Driver sustained a separated joint in his right shoulder during Green Bay's win at San Francisco on Dec. 10. He managed to play for the rest of the season and set career highs with 92 catches and 1,295 yards receiving. He also played in the Pro Bowl for the second time and didn't require shoulder surgery in the offseason.

Driver said it had felt strange not participating the first three days and was pleased that almost everything among the receivers seems back to normal.

"It felt good to be out there and cracking a sweat with the rest of the guys," Driver said. "I feel good. It's good to be back."

After practicing with the rest of the receivers, Driver said he could sense Robert Ferguson, Greg Jennings and the rest of the group was bolstered by his return.

"Robert and Greg said, 'I'm their spark plug.' We hadn't been making catches in practice, but today, we were catching all of the balls," Driver said. "I don't look at it like that, but I definitely think it makes those guys go out there and practice even harder."

Packers receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said he thought Driver looked as good as he usually does.

"Donald never looks much different," Robinson said. "He did a great job. He looked great out there, like he always does."

Driver wasn't the only receiver impressing the coaches during Tuesday morning's practice.

Rookie James Jones put on the best show of the day, making two tough catches in the end zone on passes from Aaron Rodgers and Paul Thompson.

"He's looked good so far there's no question about that," Robinson said. "We knew he was a good player. There was a lot we liked about him that's why we drafted him so high."

TWO OTHERS RETURN: defensive linemen Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett practiced for the first time after finally passing their physicals on Monday.

Both Pickett and Jolly worked with the second team on Tuesday morning. Pickett was the Packers' starter for all of last season.

"I felt good out there," Pickett said. "I'm glad it's over, but it's really not a big deal."

THE OLD STADIUM: Tuesday night's practice was scheduled to be held at City Stadium, which was the Packers' original home before they moved to Lambeau Field in 1957.

Receiver Donald Driver said he didn't think the historic significance of the practice would fully be appreciated by the younger players, but said the veterans were excited about playing there.

"A lot of the guys don't know the history behind it, but it's exciting for the veterans," Driver said. "I've been looking at that stadium on the wall for so long and I always said that I wanted the opportunity to play there."

McCarthy said practicing on a smaller field at City Stadium would force him to change up practice a little, but not significantly.

"When you go the 100-yard-field environment you just have to be smart with your individual drills," McCarthy said. "We're just going to be smart with our individual drills because we don't have the extra 20 or 30 yards for the linemen to work."

A crowd of about 3,500 turned out for the first practice at the stadium since 1961.

"It's special, it really is," McCarthy said. "Most teams don't get to do something like this and it was special to be able to do it and have so many fans come out and support us."

NEW ADDITION: The Packers signed Joe Werner, a free agent tight end from Wisconsin-La Crosse, to a contract on Tuesday.

Werner also was a two-time NCAA Division III All-American basketball player, and the Packers gave him a tryout at their May minicamp.

To make room for Werner, the Packers placed punter David Lonie on injured reserve.

NOTES: Brett Favre missed practice while attending the funeral of his stepfather-in-law, Rocky Byrd. Favre is expected to return to the team later this week. With Favre out, Rodgers again took the snaps with the first team. ... RB Vernand Morency remained out with an injured right knee. Morency iced the knee throughout practice and is expected to miss a couple of weeks. ... DE Aaron Kampman, LT Chad Clifton, TE Bubba Franks, S Marviel Underwood, LB Abdul Hodge and WR Robert Ferguson were held out of the morning practice as expected. All are on a one-a-day practice schedule. ... FB Brandon Miree sat out Tuesday night's practice with an injured ankle.