GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers are a long way from ruling Aaron Rodgers out of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, but if their starting quarterback can't go, backup Matt Flynn's work the past two days of practice has at least engendered some confidence.

Rodgers, who dislocated his right (throwing) shoulder during last Sunday's loss at Tampa Bay, watched the jog-through portion of practice wearing a gray fleece pullover and shorts, then headed out of the Don Hutson Center for treatment Thursday without taking so much as a handoff repetition. He's slated to practice Friday if his shoulder is deemed strong enough to do so.

Flynn took virtually all the first-team reps Thursday while No. 3 Brian Brohm worked almost exclusively with the scout team. McCarthy has not ruled out Rodgers playing even if he doesn't practice on Friday.

"We'll see where Aaron is tomorrow," McCarthy said after practice Thursday. "But once again, even after tomorrow's practice, you still have another 48 hours before kickoff, so we do have some time."

McCarthy said Flynn led the No. 1 offense to a touchdown in the 2-minute drill, which occurs during the portion of practice closed to reporters.

"I feel pretty comfortable about what he's done," quarterbacks coach Tom Clements said.

Said Flynn: "I felt like it went well. The more time I get some reps and run the offense, the more comfortable I get. I felt good today, I felt comfortable. I think the offensive practice ran smooth. I'm just ready to go if something happens."

Health watch

Linebacker A.J. Hawk (groin) took part only in the defensive jog-through Thursday before getting on an elliptical trainer. Brandon Chillar again replaced him with the starting defense.

At safety, Nick Collins (back) went through the entire practice, while Atari Bigby (hamstring) was limited — he took a few reps in the jog-through but worked in the rehab group the rest of practice — and Aaron Rouse (knee) was a spectator. Charlie Peprah joined Collins on defense as the No. 1 safeties. Rouse appears unlikely to play, while Bigby could miss his third straight game.

"(Rouse) is not coming along as fast as we would have hoped, so we'll see where he is (Friday)," McCarthy said. "There was some hope of (Bigby) possibly practicing full today, but it didn't work out that way."
If Peprah has to start, "We have confidence in Charlie," McCarthy said. "We really feel that we have four very good safeties on this team, and I think Jarrett Bush has potential to be another good safety. We're confident in his abilities."

Extra points

Cornerback Charles Woodson was named the NFC defensive player of the month for September, his first such award. Bigby won the December 2007 award. ... Peprah, an Alabama alum, collected on his bet with rookie running back — and disgraced Georgia alum — Kregg Lumpkin on Thursday, forcing Lumpkin to wear a Crimson Tide hooded sweatshirt after the Bulldogs' 41-30 loss on Saturday night. Georgia fell behind 31-0 in that game, but Lumpkin watched the whole thing anyway.