Starks out, Rollins added to injury report

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers will be without running back James Starks (knee) and may be without cornerback Quinten Rollins (groin) Sunday when they take on the Dallas Cowboys.

The Packers updated their injury report Saturday and downgraded Starks to out. Starks was added to the injury report at midweek despite finishing out the game against the New York Giants Sunday and then left town after a death in the family.

Starks returned Saturday and was re-evaluated to see whether the injury had improved.

The Packers still haven't indicated whether starting running back Eddie Lacy (ankle) will play against the Cowboys. Lacy was a limited participant all week but indicated he was hopeful he would be able to play.

The Packers will go with receiver Ty Montgomery as Lacy's backup after choosing not to sign practice squad running back Don Jackson.

The club announced that it had activated defensive end Mike Pennel and cornerback Demetri Goodson from the suspended list, but no other additions to the 53-man roster were made.

To make room for both players, the Packers released rookie nose tackle Brian Price. The Packers had created another spot on the 53-man roster when they released quarterback Joe Callahan on Thursday. Callahan was claimed on waivers by the New Orleans Saints.

The news that Rollins was added to the injury report could create a big problem in the secondary. The Packers are already without cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) and may be without fellow starter Damarious Randall (groin). If all three cornerbacks are out, the Packers will have to start LaDarius Gunter and possibly rookie Josh Hawkins or Goodson.

Hawkins has played only seven snaps from scrimmage this year and one of those was a 73-yard touchdown he allowed against Detroit. Goodson has not played a snap and went five weeks without practicing due to his suspension for violating the NFL's drug policy.

The Packers could use cornerback Micah Hyde as a starter, but they prefer to keep him in the slot as the nickel corner. Just because Rollins is on the injury report doesn't mean he won't play. Under the NFL's new injury status guidelines, a questionable designation means the chances of him playing range anywhere from 1% to 50%.

The new reporting system eliminated "probable" so it's hard to tell whether the Packers just added him because there was a slight chance he might not play or because there's a real chance he won't play at all.

Pennel, who also was suspended for violating the NFL's drug policy, is expected to get a fair amount of snaps against the Cowboys, who lead the league in rushing. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound Pennel had the best training camp of his career and was expected to be a starter in the 3-4 base defense.