Ironman CB Williams yet to practice but could still play Sunday
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Sunday could either be the second game Tramon Williams has missed since 2007 or further proof that the Green Bay Packers' veteran cornerback has incredible durability.
Williams didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday but is listed as questionable on the Packers' injury report leading into their Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers. Williams had his left ankle rolled up on by teammate Brad Jones while both were combining to make a tackle last weekend in Miami.
"We'll give Tramon Williams every opportunity -- all the way up to game time -- to play," head coach Mike McCarthy said Friday.
Green Bay doesn't practice Fridays under its new schedule this season, but McCarthy felt confident enough to estimate Williams as "limited" had the team been on the field 48 hours before kickoff.
"I think (Saturday) will be the biggest indicator, obviously with us going to the practice field," McCarthy said.
Williams has played in 128 of 129 possible games (playoffs included) in his eight years as a contributing member of the Packers. The only game he ever missed was, coincidentally, the last time that Green Bay played Carolina -- Week 2 of the 2011 season. That was while Williams was dealing with a right shoulder injury that he played through the rest of the season.
"Tramon Williams, definitely very durable," McCarthy said. "Very impressive athlete in the strength and conditioning; takes great care of his body. He's a pro.
"He's an old-school pro. I don't think there's any question when we got back here Monday that he was going to do everything that he could to play in this game. I have great confidence in him."
Even if Williams doesn't take part in the Packers' walk-through practice Saturday, he could still play against the Panthers. That's what makes Williams' situation unique.
"I believe Tramon is a player that can (play in a game without practicing)," cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt said Thursday. "Because his film study is at such a high level, and the way that he plays is different than the way that Sam (Shields) and (Davon) House play. They are more hands-on and they need to feel things. It depends on the player."
Shields will not have the same opportunity to wait until game time to find out if he'll play. The knee injury Shields suffered (two plays before Williams hurt his ankle) has him officially out for Sunday's game.
McCarthy had said all week that Williams was closer to returning than Shields was.
Shields' injury looked odd because he went down before the first snap of a new drive. He ran onto the field, got into position, appeared hobbled, tried to get back to the sideline for a substitution but didn't make it there and went to the ground.
"Obviously it's a knee strain, so he injured it sometime before, and when he pivoted on it, it gave out on him," McCarthy said of Shields.
Green Bay will also be without starting defensive lineman Datone Jones for the second consecutive game due to an ankle injury.
"I'm a little surprised at the path, but he's struggling laterally right now and until he gets that back, it doesn't make sense to push it forward," McCarthy said of Jones. "I thought he fought through last Saturday's practice, but he's had a setback."
Wide receiver Jarrett Boykin (groin) and inside linebacker Jamari Lattimore (neck) are both questionable for Sunday.
Follow Paul Imig on Twitter
