GREEN BAY — Starting running back Ryan Grant didn't practice again Tuesday, and it's looking less and less likely that he'll be back in action in time for the Green Bay Packers' third preseason game, Friday night at Denver.

And Grant's not especially happy about it.

"I don't know," Grant replied when asked what he has to do to get back into action. "I do want to be out there. It's a little rough (not) being out there. I don't like watching football, especially when I know I can compete and I can play.

"I would like to go (to Denver). I want to play. I want to compete. But I've got to do my part. If (the medical staff is) going to let me go, they're going to let me go. Sooner or later, they're going to."

Coach Mike McCarthy said Grant, who was dressed in pads again for his rehab work inside the Hutson Center, is "getting close."

In the meantime, the Packers figure to get an extended look at Noah Herron and Vernand Morency, their third and fourth running backs behind Grant and Brandon Jackson.

DeShawn Wynn (ankle) missed practice again Tuesday, while rookie Kregg Lumpkin has flashed but appears to be practice squad material.

Herron spent last season on injured reserve, while Morency was nagged by a training camp knee injury all season. The Packers kept four halfbacks coming out of camp last year and figure to do so again this year.

"You can never have enough good runners, because you never know the injuries you can have during the course of the season," running backs coach Edgar Bennett said. "I think we put ourselves in a pretty good position as far as having a lot of quality guys that can jump in there and make plays for us. It's going to be interesting going down the stretch. We have two more preseason games, so guys still have opportunities to let their actions speak for themselves."

Not over the Hump(hrey)

De facto No. 2 tight end Tory Humphrey continues to be in and out of the lineup with an Achilles' tendon injury related to the broken ankle that ended his season in training camp last year.

On Tuesday, he worked with the rehab group in pads but did not practice. Still, neither tight ends coach Ben McAdoo nor general manager Ted Thompson will admit to being concerned with the depth behind starter Donald Lee.

Raw rookie third-round pick Jermichael Finley and undrafted rookie Joey Haynos are the only other tight ends on the roster after Evan Moore (knee) was placed on injured reserve.

"I've had a relationship with Tory. I know the talent he has. I know the skill set he has," McAdoo said. "You have (to have) accountability and availability — and we're trying to get the young guys to respond to the accountability part of things and you're trying to get Tory to step up on the availability part."

If that continues, the Packers might have to scour the waiver wire for a backup tight end.

"(Humphrey) has had some bad luck on the injury front. We still value him as a player that can help us," Thompson said. "All of that has to be factored in as we get down to the final number (for final cuts), so (tight end is) one of the places where you might not have all of the answers."

Extra points

Wide receiver Greg Jennings (left knee tendinitis) not only proclaimed himself ready to play Friday night but said Tuesday's practice was "probably the best I've felt at practice ever, honestly." ... The Packers signed defensive tackle Rodney Allen, who was in the Indoor Football League and is Baltimore running back Willis McGahee's cousin. ... McCarthy said the competition at linebacker is so fierce, the Packers "haven't had anything like that the first two years." ... Daryn Colledge worked primarily with the No. 1s at left guard, although he also saw time at left tackle with Chad Clifton resting. Colledge flip-flopped between guard and tackle with Allen Barbre. ... Cornerback Al Harris (back) rested for the second straight day. Safety Charlie Peprah (knee), linebacker A.J. Hawk (chest) and center Scott Wells (trunk) remained out. Tackle Orrin Thompson (ankle) was back with the rehab group after practicing for the first time in weeks on Monday.