The Sports Xchange

GREEN BAY, Wis. — As the Green Bay Packers wrap up their organized team activities this week, they have an eye on the future.

In an encouraging development during the team’s open practice Wednesday, Pro Bowl wide receiver Jordy Nelson took to the field and participated on a limited basis.

“We’re right where we want to be,” Nelson said afterward.

The eight-year pro is completing his rehab work after having hip surgery early in the offseason. He hasn’t been cleared for team drills with Green Bay’s mandatory minicamp on the horizon June 16-18, but head coach Mike McCarthy expects Nelson to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.

“We set a plan at the beginning, and we’re hitting every target,” Nelson said. “We’ll be ready to go by training camp.”

Even before he jumped in for position drills this week for the final three days of the three-week OTA sessions, Nelson has been noticeably involved on the practice field. He took on a persona of a coach on the sideline, not holding back from talking to and giving pointers to the young receivers on the club.

“The amount of work he’s put into his rehab (the last few months), he’s been on time the whole time,” McCarthy said. “This is all part of the plan — how he’s being handled these (last) couple weeks (in the OTAs) and how he’ll be handled next week.”

Notables not practicing Wednesday were cornerbacks Sam Shields and Casey Hayward and outside linebackers Julius Peppers, Mike Neal and Nick Perry.

The absence of Shields for an undisclosed reason since the OTAs are voluntary left the Packers without their projected starting secondary duo on the perimeter. Hayward remains sidelined with a foot injury he sustained early in Green Bay’s offseason workout program this spring, and he hopes to be good to go when training camp opens.

Without Shields and Hayward on the field, the learning curve has been accelerated for Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, the team’s first- and second-round draft picks, respectively, this year. Second-year player Demetri Goodson, Rollins and Randall, who primarily lined up in the slot, were featured as the top three cornerbacks Wednesday.

The Packers conclude OTAs on Friday.