Practice goes 'as expected' for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (hamstring)

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgersspent significantly more time this week making sure his ailing left hamstring was strong than he did running through the plays for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.

What Rodgers did in the portion of Thursday's practice that was open to reporters was the extent of his on-the-field work.He took about half the drills during that 32-minute unit period.

"Aaron looked good," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday. "We had a set number of reps for him to take in the unit period. That went well. Then he focused on the rehab part of it. Everything went as expected."

The Packers didn't practice Friday but will be on the field Saturday, when McCarthy indicated Rodgers could do a little more work.

"We're going to do more Saturday," McCarthy said. "We basically had taken a period or two out of Thursday's practice and put it in Saturday's."

Rodgers was officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game.

In the half-speed period Thursday, Rodgers threw mostly from the pocket, which is the norm for that drill. Backup Brett Hundley took the rest of the reps in what he called his most extensive in-season practice.

Rodgers came up limping in the third quarter of Monday night's win over the Philadelphia Eagles. After trainers taped his left leg, he finished the game but did not scramble.

The other area of concern for the Packers (5-6) is at linebacker. Clay Matthews (shoulder), Jake Ryan (ankle) and Blake Martinez (knee) all were limited so far this week. Of the three, Matthews, who separated his left shoulder on what he called a "cheap shot" block from Eagles lineman Allen Barbre, appeared to do the most during the open portion of practice.

"Looked good, same thing [as Rodgers]," McCarthy said. "Just in the portion of practice that you were in there for, the intensity didn't get much higher than that the rest of the way. He did everything. Jake Ryan did what he was supposed to do. Blake did more. So we'll see how he comes through today. Tomorrow will be key for all those guys."