Jennings may be gaining on injured Peprah

Published Jun. 5, 2012 6:03 p.m. ET

foxsports

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- With Packers safety Charlie Peprah missing his third consecutive week of practices during the team's offseason training activities, second-year safety M.D. Jennings could be moving closer to the starting job.

Peprah is out while continuing to rest his sore knee, an injury that required him to have his knee scoped and cleaned out following last season.

Jennings has gotten nearly all of the snaps with the first-team defense while Peprah has been standing on the sideline. Though Jennings has looked quite good in his opportunities so far during OTAs, second-year tight end D.J. Williams beat him on a deep pass from Aaron Rodgers in one-on-one coverage during Tuesday's practice session.

Peprah had plenty of company on the unofficial injury report. Tight end Jermichael Finley was out, as was wide receiver Greg Jennings. Linebacker Clay Matthews also did not participate in any of the team drills.

After missing last week's session, left tackle Marshall Newhouse returned to practice. However, rookie defensive tackle Mike Daniels remained out, as did fullback John Kuhn, offensive tackle Derek Sherrod, tight end Andrew Quarless and running back Alex Green.

Charles Woodson continued his absence from the field, sitting out all three weeks of the voluntary OTA sessions.

Other notes:

--Based on Tuesday's practice session, rookie Andrew Datko appears to be No. 2 on the depth chart behind Bryan Bulaga at right tackle. With Matthews out, Erik Walden took all of his snaps at right outside linebacker, with first-round pick Nick Perry remaining on the left side.

--Running back Brandon Saine, who signed with the Packers last season after going undrafted, fumbled a hand-off from Rodgers during 11-on-11 drills.

--Phillip Merling, a defensive end who signed with Green Bay last week after four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, made his on-field debut with the Packers on Tuesday.

--Safety Micah Pellerin, whom the Packers picked up off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on June 1, also was on the field wearing green and gold for the first time.

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