Linsley feeling good, practices in full

The Green Bay Packers should have both of their centers healthy for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The only question is which one Packers coach Mike McCarthy will go with?

McCarthy was adamant earlier this week that there won't be any controversy about who’ll start at center between Corey Linsley and JC Tretter. That makes it sound like Linsley will return to his starting post after missing three games with a sprained ankle, but Tretter has played well in his stead.

Linsley was suited up for Sunday’s game against Oakland, but the Packers chose to start Tretter on what McCarthy called a "medical decision." Linsley was a full participant during Wednesday’s practice and Tretter didn’t show up on the injury report after getting banged up near the end of Sunday’s game.

Linsley said his ankle is feeling better than the first time he tried playing on the sprain earlier this month in Detroit. The second-year center started all 18 games last year after Tretter sustained a knee injury during the preseason that forced him to start the season on temporary injured reserve.

“For me to have done my job, I think I could’ve (played), but every player has confidence in himself that he can push through it or whatever,” Linsley said. “I felt a lot better than Detroit, and had two plays in that game not happened I feel like I could’ve made it through that one too. Looking back on it now, a smart decision. I appreciate Coach doing it for me because he really made the final call at the end of the day.”

Left tackle David Bakhtiari (ankle), defensive linemen Mike Daniels (hamstring) and Letroy Guion (foot), outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott (quad) and cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) didn’t practice Wednesday. McCarthy said Shields has returned to meetings, but remains in the concussion protocol.

Running back Eddie Lacy (ribs) and cornerback Quinten Rollins (groin) were the only new additions to the injury report. Lacy was limited on Wednesday, while Rollins was a full participant. Linebacker Clay Matthews (ankle), and offensive linemen T.J. Lang (shoulder), Bryan Bulaga (ankle) and Josh Sitton (back) continued to practice on a limited basis like the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Packers’ two newest additions to injured reserve – long-snapper Brett Goode (torn ACL) and receiver Ty Montgomery (ankle) – are both scheduled to undergo surgery next week. Goode felt a twinge when he planted his foot to redirect the coverage early on against the Raiders, but finished the game.

Montgomery missed the last eight games with a high-ankle sprain before the Packers placed him on injured reserve Sunday in need of a roster spot for tight end Andrew Quarless.

“I’m a process and goal-oriented guy,” Montgomery said. “I felt like for so long I was in this "I don’t know what’s going to happen. Hope this thing will heal up." Now, there’s nothing I can do about it, but get better.”

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