Packers could have Charles Woodson back to face Bears

The Green Bay Packers are not going to push Charles Woodson to return this week but coach Mike McCarthy indicated the defensive back could be ready to return from a broken collarbone on Dec. 16 at Chicago when the NFC North title could be on the line.

“If you ask Charles, he's probably pushing to play this week," McCarthy said, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “There's some more testing that you have to do to make sure he's cleared. He has not been cleared yet.”

Of course, now it’s about how they work the former Defensive Player of the Year back into the mix. Cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Davon House and safeties M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian have been holding down fort in the secondary. Prior to the injury, Woodson played safety in the base defense and moved to nickel corner in sub package.

The Packers host the Detroit Lions on Sunday night but it sounds like McCarthy is set to wait one more week before getting Woodson back in the mix.

“Charles is a guy who can make plays,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “He has consistently. So you always welcome back guys you feel can make plays.”

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune