GREEN BAY – The Packers will practice in pads for the first time in two weeks on Thursday afternoon and the timing couldn't be better heading into the second quarter of the season.

The Packers practiced in shells last week leading up to Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bears. Once the team returned from its extended weekend, Head Coach Mike McCarthy stressed with the players the importance of the next four games.

"We're obviously making progress, but the other part of it is we have to practice," said McCarthy in his news conference prior to practice Thursday. "We have to go down there and get after it today. That was the message in the team meeting. We need to push it more. We need to push one another more.

"It's important to really get after these padded practices. It's not really the quantity of reps for the veterans, but really it's the young guys – our young guys need 9-on-7. We need 1-on-1. We need to keep getting after it to develop the technique and fundamentals of what we're trying to get done here."

McCarthy said receiver Davante Adams remains in the concussion protocol, but is expected to do more after being limited in Wednesday's non-padded practice.

"He'll be part of the individual component of it," McCarthy said. "Davante is progressing very well. He'll do some more today. That's positive signs based on his work from (Wednesday)."

Running back Ty Montgomery (ribs) practiced with extra protection around his abdomen during Wednesday's practice. While Montgomery's status remains uncertain for Sunday's game in Dallas, McCarthy has been encouraged by what he saw Wednesday from the third-year running back.

"I thought Ty practiced well," McCarthy said. "He's going to practice today and we'll keep evaluating it. I thought he looked good."