GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Sam Shields was at Lambeau Field headquarters late this week, but with the Green Bay Packers' starting cornerback still going through the NFL's concussion protocol, his status for Monday night's game remains uncertain.
Shields suffered the concussion when attempting to make a second-quarter tackle against the New England Patriots. Shields was officially listed as questionable on the Packers' injury report Saturday. At the time of that designation, he had 54 hours remaining to get medically cleared.
With Atlanta Falcons star receiver Julio Jones coming off a 10-catch, 189-yard game last weekend against Arizona (during which he did the vast majority of that damage against $70 million cornerback Patrick Peterson), Green Bay would certainly be better off with Shields available. If Shields isn't cleared in time, though, Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt maintained his season-long stance that his confidence would be equally as high if Davon House or Casey Hayward start instead.
"They all get the same reps in practice," Whitt said of his top four cornerbacks, which includes starter Tramon Williams. "The preparation hasn't been any different. They're prepared the same so when somebody does go down. I tell them I don't care who draws what assignment. We haven't matched (on any wide receivers) this year. All four guys have been on every top receiver and played well. I like what we have."
When Whitt said earlier in the season that he had no preference whether Shields, Williams, House or Hayward started, his father saw those comments and questioned him on it.
"He said, 'Well, the other two (Shields and Williams) are starters for a reason,'" Whitt said of the conversation with his father. "But I could care less out of the four who starts. I think they're all very close. I have confidence in every one of them. I really do."
Shields missed two games earlier this season with a knee injury, and the results were mixed without him. Green Bay was able to handle Carolina's passing game, but it couldn't stop Drew Brees and the Saints' offense. New Orleans scored 44 points as Brees threw for 311 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Whitt acknowledged that House "might have had one game where he was not as clean as the other games," that being the Saints game, but added that "Davon has played really well all year."
No Packers defensive player has played more snaps than Williams. Shields has been a 99-percent snap player except for games in which he was injured. House has played 55 more total snaps this season than Hayward, but they've both been on the field nearly half of the overall time.
Shields is one of nine players on Green Bay's injury report. Two new additions this week were defensive linemen Mike Daniels (back) and Josh Boyd (knee). Daniels didn't practice Thursday or Friday, while Boyd was out Thursday and was limited Friday. Though the Packers didn't practice Saturday, they are forced by league rules to make an estimation on practice participation, and Daniels was listed as limited.
Daniels and Boyd are both probable against Atlanta.
"I think Mike is going to be full strength, and I think Josh is going to be full strength by Monday," head coach Mike McCarthy said.
Another defensive lineman, undrafted rookie Luther Robinson, injured his calf in practice Friday and has been ruled out. McCarthy had no timeframe for Robinson's return. Jamari Lattimore was also ruled out after suffering an ankle injury in last Sunday's win over New England.
Starting offensive guards Josh Sitton (toe) and T.J. Lang (ankle) remain on the injury report, but both are probable. Backup guard Lane Taylor is probable while battling through an illness. Outside linebacker Nick Perry (shoulder) is probable, too.
Follow Paul Imig on Twitter
