Packers Notebook: Greg Jennings will have surgery this week, coach says

Packers WR Greg Jennings is scheduled to have abdominal surgery this week. Jennings said his injury isn't season-ending, but he hasn't given a timetable on when he's likely to return. (US Presswire)

Due to travel complications caused by Hurricane Sandy, Packers WR Greg Jennings wasn't able to have his abdominal surgery on Tuesday in Philadelphia, as was scheduled last week. But coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday that Jennings will have the operation this week.

“Greg's medical process will happen sometime this week, and when he gets back we'll let him take you through the details, like we've always done with the players,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy didn't have any additional information and said he "coudn't" say whether Jennings was currently in Philadelphia, which was hit by the destructive storm.

The two-time Pro Bowler, who hurt his groin in Week 1, re-aggravated it in Week 4 and has been sidelined since. He met with Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia last week and elected to have what he called a “20-, 25-minute outpatient procedure” on Tuesday. When the storm struck Monday night and almost all travel was suspended, the operation was postponed.

Jennings said last week that the surgery was not season-ending but that he didn't want to provide a timetable for his return.

In related news, the Packers had 13 players listed on their injury report. McCarthy provided some information on a few of them. He said WR Jordy Nelson, who hurt his hamstring in practice last week and was held out of Sunday's win over the Jaguars, will “go through the rehab process (Wednesday) and (Thursday) and we'll see if we can potentially do something Friday.”

McCarthy said FB John Kuhn, who also injured his hamstring last week, is “feeling a little bit better” and will go through the same rehab process as Nelson.

Regarding rookie DE Jerel Worthy, who sustained a concussion in Sunday's win, McCarthy said the team is playing it safe.

“He's still going through the protocol for concussions,” McCarthy said. “I know he's a lot better (Wednesday) than he was (Tuesday). But our medical staff plays the high side of caution, especially with that kind of injury.”

The Packers have a bye after this week's game against the Cardinals, who've lost four in a row. It's not inconceivable the team could rest players who aren't fully healthy to give them extra time off and not risk re-injury.

Jones be praised: WR James Jones is having the best season of his career; in eight games, he has made 36 catches for 401 yards and seven touchdowns without a single drop. His QB and vocal advocate, Aaron Rodgers, said that success is a direct result of Jones' work in practice.

“I think the way he's playing has a direct correlation to the way he's practicing,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “He's making a lot of those plays in practice; he's got improved practice habits, and I think that confidence that he's getting in practice -- getting more balls thrown his way because he's been working hard -- is transferring to the game. He's getting more opportunities and making the most of them.”

Life of the party: The night before home games, the Packers are required to stay in a nearby hotel so they can build team chemistry and have their curfews enforced. Raji provided a little glimpse into what goes on before lights-out.

“The D-line gets in Ryan Pickett's room, we play cards and watch the primetime (college) games,” Raji said. “Every week it seems the room is getting bigger; there's a lot of DBs coming in. It's kind of our hangout spot before (coaches) come in and tell us to go to bed.”

Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter: @CBSPackers and @jimmycarlton88.