GREEN BAY -- It's not the velocity of Aaron Rodgers' throws, or that the Green Bay Packers' new starting quarterback doesn't put enough air under his deep balls, or the rotation of the ball coming out of his hand is different than his predecessors'.

No, wide receiver Donald Driver has only one explanation for why he's dropped a third-down pass early in each of the Packers' first two preseason games.

"I just dropped them, plain and simple. Plain and simple," the Packers' two-time Pro Bowl receiver said after practice Monday night.

Against Cincinnati in the exhibition opener, Driver bobbled and dropped a third-down pass on a crossing route to force a punt on the Packers' first possession. Against San Francisco Saturday night, he was open on a deep ball down the right side and dove for it, the ball caroming off his fingertips incomplete.

"(Rodgers) threw a perfect ball (both times). The first game, I turned my hands the wrong way and dropped it. The second game, I misjudged it and took a dive," Driver said. "We've got to make plays for him. ... Those two plays, I should've made."

Health watch

Linebacker A.J. Hawk said he will miss his second straight game with a chest injury suffered in the opener, and although Hawk wasn't saying what his specific injury is, he did rule out a few things: It's not a torn pectoral muscle, it's not a bruised sternum, and he doesn't need surgery.

"They told me that you (reporters) should talk to McCarthy if you have any real questions about it. I'm just following the rules," he said.

Meanwhile, halfback Ryan Grant, who hasn't played in either of the first two preseason games because of a tight hamstring, said he expects to play.

"There's a good chance. I feel good," said Grant, who didn't practice Monday night but was in pads for rehab work inside the Don Hutson Center. "It's up to the coach. I know they're being careful with me, but I'm working."

Wide receiver Greg Jennings (knee) practiced Monday and said afterward he'll make his preseason debut against the Broncos. Tight end Tory Humphrey (Achilles' tendon), wide receiver Brett Swain (quadriceps) and tackle Orrin Thompson (ankle) also returned to practice, while defensive tackle Daniel Muir (groin) and tight end Evan Moore (knee) were sidelined by injuries suffered Saturday.

Defensive linemen Ryan Pickett (hamstring), Justin Harrell (back) and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee) did not practice, although KGB was in pads and worked in the Hutson Center.

The kitchen sink?

The smile on Rodgers' face said all you needed to know about how he felt about the theory the 49ers game-planned for him and blitzed him more extensively because coach Mike Nolan didn't want Rodgers to play well after bypassing him to take struggling Alex Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.

"I don't know, you'd have to ask the 49ers," Rodgers replied. "If I was Mike Nolan, I would've kept blitzing, too, because we couldn't figure it out."

Extra points

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was gone Monday because of a death in the family. ... Cornerback Joe Porter also was missing because of a personal matter. ... The players moved out of the St. Norbert College dorms Sunday. ... Former GM Ron Wolf is visiting practice this week. ... McCarthy said Brian Brohm "is still ahead" of Matt Flynn in the backup quarterback race. ... Players spent two hours starting at 10 a.m. watching film of the 49ers game, then began their preparation for Denver. ... McCarthy was not overly critical of cornerback Jarrett Bush's play against the 49ers, despite Bush allowing several long completions.