GREEN BAY — It was only one practice, but for Justin Harrell, it was a major step toward redemption.

The Green Bay Packers' 2007 first-round draft pick, who has been on the physically unable to perform list since training camp opened July 28 with a back injury, practiced for the first time Wednesday and is poised to make his debut Sunday against Indianapolis if he continues to look good in practice.

And for a guy who is acutely aware of how disappointed fans are in his short NFL career so far — and how part of the Packers' offseason plan, the decision to trade Corey Williams to Cleveland, hinged on him — he understands the expectations he is facing.

"This is my second year. Last year, being a rookie, you kind of have an excuse for the way you played. But trading Corey and all the moves they made were pretty much made for me to come up and start proving what they brought me here for," Harrell said. "So I feel like there's a lot of pressure for me to go out there and perform and try to help this team somehow."

McCarthy said he thought Harrell is "in very good shape" but would wait until the end of the week to determine whether he'd be activated to the 53-man roster before Sunday's game.

Health watch

Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, who suffered a triceps injury last week against Seattle, admitted that if the game was Wednesday, he wouldn't be able to play. But Pickett remains optimistic about playing Sunday.

McCarthy said Pickett wouldn't practice fully until Friday.

"Right now, it'd be tough for me to play, but who knows when Friday comes around how I'll feel," Pickett said. "Definitely, that's a concern, that it's an injury that can get worse. So I have to be smart about that. At the same time, we're playing a big game that I definitely don't want to miss."

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn't throw with his still-healing right shoulder but "potentially" could throw today, McCarthy said. Rodgers would then rest his arm Friday.

"The medical staff felt (that) the closer to the game that he throws that he would encounter more of a negative effect on his shoulder," McCarthy said.

Although McCarthy characterized veteran cornerback Al Harris, out since Sept. 21 with a lacerated spleen, as "doubtful" for Sunday, Harris did take part in practice on a limited basis Wednesday, working in the early-practice jog-through session and in individual drills.

"Al and I talked again at practice. He feels great. Mentally he feels he could play," McCarthy said. "We're just going to follow the direction of the doctors."

Extra points

Asked about an ESPN story about ex-Packers quarterback Brett Favre, now with the Jets, calling injured Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo to offer encouragement and advice after Romo suffered a broken pinkie finger on his passing hand, Rodgers confirmed that he still hasn't heard from his former teammate. Asked if that mattered to him, Rodgers smiled and replied, "Nope. That doesn't really bother me — at all." ... The Packers signed linebacker Spencer Havner to the practice squad, filling the spot created by DeShawn Wynn's promotion last week.