GREEN BAY — Mark Tauscher won't say it, because he's too smart and too media-savvy. There's a reason why the Green Bay Packers veteran right tackle's various TV and radio gigs landed him on the Wisconsin airwaves this fall almost as often as Barack Obama and John McCain at the height of the presidential campaign.

But the reality is Tauscher very well could be preparing for his final five games with his home-state NFL team, so missing Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field isn't something he's interested in doing.

Or maybe that's Tauscher being Tauscher, his raised-on-a-farm work ethic telling him that you show up for work every day, no matter how tired or sore you may be.

Either way, while Tauscher wouldn't say for sure that he'll be in the starting lineup, he did practice on what coach Mike McCarthy described as a "between limited and full" basis Friday and hinted strongly he'll play despite being listed as questionable with the hamstring injury he suffered two plays into Monday night's loss at New Orleans.

If Tauscher couldn't go, backup Tony Moll would get the nod.

"Obviously you want to play every opportunity you get, and this is no different," Tauscher said after participating in the jog-through, individual drills and some of the 11-on-11 team periods during Friday's practice. "We'll kind of see how it goes, but I've felt a lot better as the week has gone on, and I feel like I've made some good improvements."

Tauscher, who started just one season at the University of Wisconsin and entered the league as a seventh-round pick in 2000, has started 125 games (including playoffs) with the Packers, and he hasn't missed a start since missing five games with a groin injury in 2006. That time on the sideline snapped a 57-game starting streak that followed left knee reconstruction that ended his 2002 season after two games.

"We want to make sure Mark's healthy. We don't put players out there in position to get hurt or do things to get them ready for a game that may be a short-term answer," McCarthy said. "(But) it's an important game. Mark realizes that. Our whole football team realizes that. It's important for him to play. He's a starter for a reason. But that's also why you train the way we do with our offensive linemen, and Tony can step in there and play."

Moll may be stepping in there in 2009. Tauscher won't talk about his contract being up after this season — "I'm optimistic that something will get done" was all he'd say about the issue — but Moll said the linemen are aware the Packers haven't approached Tauscher about an extension.

"Once you leave the stadium, your conversations move on to other things. But I know it's in most people's heads around here," said Moll, one of Tauscher's good friends on the team. "I know it's an issue that he's dealing with. For anybody, you want to be able to sign that next contract. I'm sure it's frustrating for him that there haven't been any talks."

Moll, a 2006 fifth-round pick who is 25 and six years younger than Tauscher, graded out well in his performance against the Saints, and with rookie sixth-round pick Breno Giacomini also on the roster, there is depth if the team opts not to re-sign Tauscher.
While offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said earlier this week that Moll "probably feels he should be playing all the time," Moll defers to Tauscher on that one.

"I have a guy in front of me with many years of experience behind him. So every day, I'm watching him, seeing how he handles things, because I'm definitely learning from what he does," said Moll, who has 16 career NFL starts, including three at right guard to start this season. "Part of me, with how many starts I've had, I'd like to see the field more. But I'm also happy being on our 53-man roster. I'm looking to contribute any way I can.

"I don't think I could have more confidence right now. (But) when it comes my time to be on that starting line, then that will be my time. I don't know what will happen down the road."

Neither does Tauscher, but he's focused on his more immediate future — Sunday.

"There's a line where (by playing hurt) you're hurting the team," Tauscher said. "You kind of have to know your body and understand when you're going to be able to function at a level that's acceptable. That's kind of the balancing act. You can go out there and be tough and flop around, (but) can you be effective? That's what you have to look at. We'll see. Things have progressed, and we'll see how it goes on Sunday."