House making progress, mulling future

Davon House knows the reality of the situation.

The Green Bay Packers fourth-year cornerback's contract is up at the end of the year and bones don't heal overnight. Although House was back at practice Tuesday, he was limited to mainly running and a reintroduction to back-pedaling after fracturing his right scapula bone earlier this month against Atlanta.

House has missed two games since landing on the knee of Falcons receiver Julio Jones. The injury didn't require surgery, but the week-to-week nature of the injury has left the 6-foot-1 cornerback in wait-and-see mode. As of Tuesday afternoon, he'd yet to be cleared for a return.

Until he is, there's going to be some anxiety for the upcoming free agent. Time is ticking. The playoff-bound Packers wrap up the regular season Sunday against Detroit in a winner-take-all battle for the NFC North.

"I'm still not cleared, so if the season were to end this Sunday I played my last game as a Packer probably," House said. "You have to be real in my shoes. You have to be real. It's my fourth year. It's not guaranteed I'll be back in March, so it's a chance I played my last game. Is that highly (likely), no? But it's still possible."

If cleared, pain tolerance will factor into his availability. He won't have to wear a harness like he did in 2012 when he suffered a left shoulder subluxation. The only modification likely would be extra protection on his shoulder pads.

House worked with cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt during practice Tuesday. The 6-foot-1 cornerback admitted the workout "was exhausting," but that was the point in order to get some of his conditioning back.

A healthy House would be welcomed against Detroit. He was one of several defensive backs who played a role in containing Lions receiver Calvin Johnson during the teams' meeting in September. It was actually in Johnson's coverage, House scored his lone pick of the season.

The Packers have three cornerbacks – House, Tramon Williams and Jarrett Bush – who are all scheduled to be unrestricted free agents at the end of the year, but there's only one equation House cares about at the moment.

As long as the Packers keeping winning, his chances of getting back on the field for Green Bay grow exponentially.

"I feel comfortable being back this week," House said. "Christmas is coming up. Hopefully I get a gift from the doctors and get cleared, and I'll be out there."

All 53 players were in uniform for the Packers during practice Tuesday. The team will file its first injury report of the week on Wednesday.

Different strokes

The Packers and Lions are taking different approaches to the holiday week. Detroit will practice on Thursday, while Green Bay modified its schedule to give players and staff off for Christmas.

McCarthy said he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'd be concerned if we were working on the holiday," McCarthy said. "That's just not right in my opinion. I think our players, coaches, support staff will be where they're supposed to be for Christmas Eve and Christmas."

-whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.