For the third straight day, quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not throw at practice as he rested his sprained right shoulder Friday, but he said he feels better than he did a week ago and will get the start Sunday at Seattle.
"The decision to hold Aaron Rodgers from throwing today was a medical decision," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "Dr. (Pat) McKenzie in his evaluation this morning felt it was best for Aaron not to throw today, so that's why his practice reps were limited, and he'll be ready to go Sunday."
Rodgers' availability last week against Atlanta came right down to game day as he worked out Sunday morning for McCarthy, but Rodgers said he has seen "marked improvement" in his shoulder, which he originally injured Sept. 28 at Tampa Bay.
"I would have liked to have done a little throwing but I did as much as I could with the run game and the mental reps," Rodgers said. "I feel good about the game plan and my preparation."
Those mental reps came when backups Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm took the snaps in team work.
"I've got to keep my cardio up so I just do as much as I can, so I do the run game stuff mostly," Rodgers said. "I just go through what I would do as far as the read or their check at the line of scrimmage."
Heading west
Sunday's game at Seattle will be the Packers' lone trip to the West Coast this season and the first since playing at San Francisco in December of 2006.
McCarthy said the team's schedule will stay pretty much the same as it is for any other road game, even though they will be turning the clocks back two hours upon arrival in Seattle on Saturday afternoon.
"We try to keep the football team on a clock," McCarthy said. "We do the same thing every Friday as far as the time frame that we work, as far as getting our players up early. Same thing Saturday. I think it's important particularly when you have a young football team to get them out of bed early and get their day started. So we'll leave at the same time.
"It's a little longer flight going out, but we still have a good block of time between our arrival to the hotel and our night meetings. I'll be quicker in the night meetings, because I'm conscientious that 9 o'clock team meeting is really 11 o'clock our time. So you're conscientious of those things."
Before coming to the Packers in '06, McCarthy spent a season with the 49ers as offensive coordinator when the time change for road games was more of a factor.
"I don't think it's a factor when you come from the middle part of the country," McCarthy said. "Having the opportunity to coach on the West Coast, that's tough duty. When you're leaving every Friday and getting back Sunday, really Monday morning, six out of eight weeks, it's definitely a challenge."
Final meeting?
Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren, who led Green Bay to a Super Bowl title and three division championships during his seven seasons (1992-98) as the Packers head coach, announced before the season that this will be his final year in Seattle.
Holmgren, 60, said he and his wife, Kathy, have plans for what will be his first year away from coaching since 1971.
"I'm looking at it like a sabbatical leave," Holmgren said. "We're going to take some time and do some of the things we haven't been able to do as a couple. She has been a remarkable coach's wife.
"Now I have got six grandkids. (Daughter) Gretchen had a little baby boy, Michael, so now I've got finally two little guys that I can play catch with when I'm at the nursing home."
{sportsad300}Holmgren has not ruled out a return to coaching after the year away from the NFL.
"I wish I could tell you how I am going to react to this after having done it for so long and not taking a break for so many years," Holmgren said. "I don't know, but I am going to be open, and then who knows?"
Injury/participation update
Cornerback Al Harris (spleen) will be out for the third straight game.
Safety Atari Bigby (hamstring) and defensive ends Jason Hunter (hamstring) and Michael Montgomery (ankle) did not practice and are listed as doubtful for Sunday.
Wide receiver James Jones (knee), running back Kregg Lumpkin (hamstring) and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (knee) are questionable, although Pickett said he is confident he will be able to play.
New to the injury report Friday was rookie cornerback Pat Lee, who is listed as questionable with back spasms he began experiencing after Thursday's practice. Lee did not participate Friday but McCarthy said he is hopeful Lee will be able to play.
In addition to Rodgers, tackle Chad Clifton (hamstring), fullback Korey Hall (knee), linebacker A.J. Hawk (groin), safety Aaron Rouse and cornerback Charles Woodson (toe) are probable.
For Seattle, wide receiver Deion Branch (heel) and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (knee) did not participate in practice all week and are questionable. Quarterback Seneca Wallace (calf), who was limited Friday, is also questionable.
Linebacker Leroy Hill (knee), cornerback Kelly Jennings (ribs), tackle Walter Jones (team decision), running back Maurice Morris (knee) and wide receiver Koren Robinson (knee) are all probable.
