GREEN BAY — They arrived together in the same draft class, they all live in a one-mile radius of each other and in Monday night's regular-season opener against Minnesota, they will line up side-by-side-by-side in the middle of the Green Bay Packers' offensive line.

Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz and Tony Moll have a combined 70 starts among them, and their bond will be vital on a topsy-turvy offensive line that has been unsettled all preseason.

With center Scott Wells listed as questionable after missing his fourth straight practice with a recurring lower back injury and rookie Josh Sitton ruled out with a knee injury suffered Aug. 22, the Packers figure to start Colledge at left guard, Spitz at center and Moll at right guard against the Vikings' mammoth defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams.

Wells has not been ruled out and McCarthy suggested he could be active Monday night as a backup to Spitz.

"We have gone through this before, where we've played different combinations of players up front," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Saturday's practice. "We've forced our younger players to learn multiple positions up front, starting two years ago. We're benefiting from that right now."

McCarthy said he's "comfortable" with how much practice time the three have had together since Sitton's injury, and the coach smiled when recalling the ups-and-downs all three experienced as rookies in 2006, when they each started more than 10 games (Colledge 15, Spitz 13, Moll 10), including five all together.

"They have grown up a lot," McCarthy said.

"I think we've all progressed. You're supposed to progress as you get older," Spitz added. "We're going to be put in different situations Monday night, but that's the way we've been practicing since we've been here. Obviously we've had some shuffling to do. We just have to roll with the punches."

Health watch

McCarthy's assessment of the Packers' injury situation was simple. "We're healthy enough," he said.

Linebacker A.J. Hawk (chest, questionable) practiced for the third straight day but still hasn't been cleared by the medical staff.

"We didn't have any setbacks health-wise. I'm just trying to give the doctors and trainers every opportunity to see me perform and do everything they wanted me to test and hopefully leave them no doubt in the decision to make," said Hawk, who has settled on a harness to wear during the game after trying several out during practice.

"I feel good. I've been telling them that most of this week. I feel pain-free."

No. 3 wide receiver James Jones (knee, doubtful) did not practice again, but McCarthy said he is "comfortable" with Ruvell Martin and Jordy Nelson as the third and fourth receivers behind starters Greg Jennings and Donald Driver.

Halfback Ryan Grant (hamstring) was back in action and practiced fully Saturday. He will start.

Although defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee, probable) hasn't practiced much this week, McCarthy said he "feels good" about the pass-rushing specialist playing.

"Kabeer has been limited in his practice reps, but we have 56 more hours to go," McCarthy said shortly after noon Saturday. "He'll be a game-time decision, but I'm hopeful that he'll go."

McCarthy said Wells would not be downgraded to doubtful and could be active.

"I don't see him starting, but (being active as a backup) is definitely an option," McCarthy said.

Not must-see TV

McCarthy won't be among the legion of Packers fans tuning into today's New York Jets-Miami Dolphins game to see ex-Packers quarterback Brett Favre make his regular-season debut with his new team.

"I'm actually going to work on Detroit, if you must know," McCarthy said, referring to the Packers' next opponent.

Others are looking forward to seeing how Favre fares.

"I will certainly be interested to see how he plays," said Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell, Favre's former teammate with the Packers. "I'm rooting for him. I think he'll play well. Talking to him, I think he's really excited about his situation and the potential that that team has."

Asked what it's going to be like to play at Lambeau Field without Favre, Longwell said: "It will be different just on Monday night not having him there. For the 12 years I've been in this league, he's been under center there every single time. And whether I've been there or been here, he's been the quarterback. So it will be different not seeing him there. No slight against Aaron, but it will certainly be weird not seeing No. 4 there."

Extra points

The Vikings haven't scored an offensive touchdown at Lambeau Field under Brad Childress — a streak of 135 minutes, 45 seconds. The last offensive TD for the Vikings came with 46 seconds left in the third quarter of their Nov. 21, 2005 victory when Ciatrick Fason had a 1-yard run. ... Packers rookie third-string running back Kregg Lumpkin expects to be active Monday night, but his role playing Adrian Peterson on the scout team was vital in practice this week. "It's hard to simulate him," Lumpkin said. "He's a different beast, so you just do the best you can."