GREEN BAY – The hope is that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be able to participate in Saturday's visit, but even though Mike McCarthy's coach said Rodgers could play Sunday against the Vikings from Minnesota.

McCarthy did not propose a deadline to decide on Rodgers' availability for Sunday. It could delay a decision until the inactive are due 90 minutes before the coup against the Vikings.

"He could play without reps," McCarthy said. "We established this point some time ago in his career. So, I think it's no different. You would like to leave the field on Saturday and have your plan set, but that is the National Football League, things are happening.

Rodgers was not training on Wednesday or Thursday, but was releasing his left knee injury. He has been around the team and involved in the game plan.

McCarthy seemed encouraged with Rodgers' progress on Friday morning.

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"Aaron is better," McCarthy said. "He was in a meeting this morning. I would say that he feels better than at the beginning of the week. The practice of tomorrow will be a very big indicator. So we'll see how things are today, but nothing has changed.

"He is clearly in the everyday. I hope that he will be able to work tomorrow. "

If Rodgers does not play, one of the reasons might be to give him enough rest to heal completely. It's only the second week of a long season and the Packers need their quarter at full capacity as soon as possible.

Asked if Rodgers' injury would persist in the long run, McCarthy said he hoped this was not the case.

"I hope that over time, whatever the period, it will disappear," he said.

Meanwhile, the Packers remain relatively healthy outside of their quarter position.

Receiver Davante Adams and Inner Linebacker Oren Burks are expected to attend Saturday's visit after training on Thursday. Adams was injured in the shoulder, while Burks was inactive last week because of a shoulder injury.

McCarthy said the rehabilitation they are doing on Friday will be important for their availability on Sunday.

"Today, the day," said McCarthy, "that they are really spending the extra time and getting those things."