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DE PERE, Wis. -- Just because the Green Bay Packers finally have Jordy Nelson back on the field doesn't mean the offense will be back to the old times of the potent Aaron Rodgers-to-Nelson passing combination anytime soon. The most likely scenario for Green Bay is to have Rodgers and Nelson on the field together in a game for the first time in more than a year when the Packers play their season opener Sept. 11 at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Before then, the Packers finish their preseason schedule with road games against the San Francisco 49ers on Friday and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 1.
Rodgers is expected to make his first game appearance of the preseason and potentially play a lot when he returns to his native Northern California this week.
However, that matchup with the 49ers looms as possibly Rodgers' only preseason appearance this summer after head coach Mike McCarthy held the healthy veteran out of the first two exhibition games.
As for Nelson, he's a good bet to not play this week with the Packers' making him a limited participant in practice, starting Monday when they resume on-field work following their 20-12 win over the Oakland Raiders on Thursday.
"He'll go through the individual (drills), and then we'll kind of take it from there. So, first things first," McCarthy said Saturday, as the players spent the day in meetings, weight-room work and a team-building exercise.
The Packers activated Nelson, their top receiver who missed the 2015 season because of a torn ACL in his right knee, from the physically unable to perform list Wednesday after he passed his physical exam.
Nelson had been sidelined since the start of training camp in late July because of an unspecified injury to his left knee, which he merely termed "a hiccup."
Nelson participated in the team's closed practice Wednesday and then dressed in uniform, ran routes and caught passes in pregame warm-ups Thursday before watching the game from the sideline.
"It was just another step in the process," Nelson said after the game, adding about his surprise appearance with the helmet and pads on for the pregame work with the team,
"Not a big deal. I knew this was going to happen."
Nelson wouldn't speculate on whether he would be cleared to play as early as Friday's game against the 49ers, but he reiterated what he's said all along that his priority is to be ready to play when the regular season starts.
"As far as I know, I'm going to be playing Week 1," he said.
McCarthy doesn't seem to be concerned about what could be zero playing time for Rodgers and Nelson together this preseason.
Nelson was healthy enough in Green Bay's spring workouts to run pass routes as Rodgers threw him the football. More of the same is in store as Nelson practices in training camp for the first time Monday in front of spectators.
"It will be in the individual drills (with) the emphasis there -- the normal protocol that you want to bring guys back," McCarthy said. "Aaron and Jordy will work as much as they possibly can on one-on-one routes and things like that.
"We've got a plan," added McCarthy, referring to potential game action for Nelson the duration of the preseason. "We'll start that plan, and based on how it works out (for) play time, I can't really answer that question."
Nelson's teammates feel the ninth-year pro won't need much time to work his way back into the offense, although he hasn't played since he sustained the ACL injury in a preseason game at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 23 last year.
"I can't put a time on when another man is going to be comfortable," fellow receiver Davante Adams said Saturday. "But, I know Jordy, and I know he'll be ready.
"It's been big," Adams said about Nelson's return. "He's a key part of this team, and he's coming back with us now, so we're excited."
The broad smile on Nelson's face during his brief time on the playing field before Thursday's game suggested how happy he is to be nearly all of the way back from a difficult last year.
"There's a lot that's gone into it," Nelson said. "It's another step in the right direction. It's another step to be ready for Jacksonville. We'll just continue to work that way."
NOTES: QB Brett Hundley is sidelined indefinitely again after he reinjured his left ankle early in the second quarter of the exhibition victory over the Raiders on Thursday. Hundley started the game in place of Aaron Rodgers, who was a healthy scratch for the second straight outing this preseason. Hundley's ankle was rolled on a hit by Raiders defensive standout Khalil Mack as Hundley threw a pass. He left the game and didn't return, going 5-of-7 passing for 67 yards while also directing a 14-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to start the game. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Hundley will be "hard-pressed" to practice during the upcoming week and probably won't be available for the game at San Francisco on Friday. Hundley was sidelined two weeks early in training camp because of a sprained ankle. ... SS Morgan Burnett didn't play Thursday because of a back injury, which has kept him out since it flared up before the start of the Packers' first preseason game Aug. 12. Micah Hyde made a second straight start in Burnett's absence.
... RB Eddie Lacy powered the Packers' run-heavy, game-opening touchdown drive of 74 yards in 14 plays that chewed up seven minutes, 36 seconds on Thursday. Lacy had nine carries for 45 yards in the series, capped by a one-yard dive across the goal line on third-and-goal. Lacy sat out the rest of game. The Packers' featured back has played only one series each of the two first two exhibition games but has been productive with 69 yards in 13 carries for a robust per-rush average of 5.3 yards. ... OLB Clay Matthews was a healthy scratch Thursday for the second straight preseason game. Converted defensive end Datone Jones made the start against the Raiders. ... OLB Julius Peppers also was held out Thursday night for the second straight game. Nick Perry, who has been working ahead of Peppers in the Packers' base defense since the start of training camp, continued as a starter against the Raiders. ... C Corey Linsley is the only player on the Packers' PUP list. The incumbent starter continues to recover from a hamstring injury that sidelined him during the team's offseason workouts. JC Tretter has started the first two preseason games in Linsley's absence.
