Packers' Burnett bothered by calf injury

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Encouraged by running back Eddie Lacy and receiver Davante Adams' progress in recoveries from ankle injuries, the Green Bay Packers could be without veteran safety Morgan Burnett after he reinjured his troublesome calf early in practice Friday.

The Packers listed Lacy, Adams and Burnett as questionable Saturday on the injury report for their home game Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, but coach Mike McCarthy sounded much more hopeful about Lacy and Adams than he did about Burnett.

''I think Eddie and Davante are both progressing,'' McCarthy said.

Burnett missed the Packers' opener at Chicago with an injury to the same calf, and the team allowed 189 yards rushing yards. Burnett returned last week against Seattle and helped the defense hold Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch to 41 yards on 15 carries. The Packers did not practice Saturday, but the team estimated that Burnett would not have been able to go if they had.

''I think anytime you're coming off a previous injury and you feel something, I think this is a natural response,'' McCarthy said.

When Burnett injured the calf midway through last season and missed the team's Oct. 26 game at New Orleans, the Packers gave up 193 yards rushing to the Saints.

''Morgan means a lot. Just look at Week 1 and Week 2, just the communication, the productivity,'' McCarthy said. ''He definitely makes a difference when he's on the field. He's an excellent communicator, a heck of a football player, is involved in your matchup plans, things like that. He's definitely one of our best players on defense.''

If Burnett can't go, the Packers would start nickel back Micah Hyde alongside Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at safety.

Lacy said after practice Friday that he did more than he was supposed to do and that his ankle was ''cool.''

''It felt better when I went out there and ran (Friday) for the first time since then and we have a few more days to the game,'' Lacy said. ''I can continue to rehab, and hopefully I'll be able to get out there and play.''

Asked about his ankle's progress, Adams replied: ''I just try to make sure I do what I can and really take all that swelling out of there that's going to keep me from putting pressure on it. I'm glad that we have a long week this week so I can take advantage of that with my teammates and just getting everything where it should be.''

The Packers ruled out right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee), although McCarthy sounded optimistic that Bulaga, who was injured in practice before the Seattle game, would return relatively soon.

''From my conversation with him (Friday), he's very positive. But he will not be able to play Monday night,'' McCarthy said. ''(It was) definitely a sigh of relief. Any time you come off the field just the way he did, you always think the worst. Particularly with his history. So we definitely feel good about where he is and his potential timeline.''

The Packers also listed two of their core special-teams players, safety Sean Richardson (ankle) and fullback Aaron Ripkowski (shoulder) as questionable. Both players apparently suffered injuries Friday after the media access portion of practice ended.

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