"I know Mark is very optimistic," Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday. "He has been very positive about his chances to play."

Offensive line coach James Campen took that as a good sign.

"If Mark says he's optimistic then I believe him," Campen said. "He's always responded well. If there's any way that he can play, he'll play."

Tauscher, who has started 29 straight games, injured his right hamstring on the second play of Monday night's loss to the New Orleans Saints . He had an MRI on Tuesday. While McCarthy did not reveal the results, the injury doesn't appear to be season-ending.

Tauscher was at Wednesday's practice and watched in sweats. He will be evaluated Friday morning by team doctor Pat McKenzie and it will be determined whether he will practice or be a game-time decision Sunday.

While hamstring injuries are normally associated with positions that play in space, Campen said hamstring injuries can cause problems for linemen.

"You lose power, you lose mobility," Campen said. "You lose the power in your leg, then it's bad."

Campen knows that all too well. His playing career ended with a torn hamstring.

If Tauscher can't play, Tony Moll will start. He replaced Tauscher against the Saints and played well after having some early trouble handling the speed of the game.

Injury report: The Packers are back to standing room only in the training room.

After seeming to regain their health at mid-season, they are banged up again. The Packers listed 18 active players on the report, only three of whom - cornerback Pat Lee (knee sprain), running back DeShawn Wynn (calf) and Tauscher - were not able to practice.

McCarthy said Lee would be out several weeks.

Tackle Chad Clifton (knees), tight end Tory Humphrey (ankle), running back Brandon Jackson (ankle), receiver Greg Jennings (rib), defensive tackle Johnny Jolly (ankle), end Mike Montgomery (ankle), cornerback Charles Woodson (toe) and center Scott Wells (shoulder) were limited participants. Receiver James Jones (knee) and end Jeremy Thompson (groin) were full participants.

The Panthers had just two players on the injury report, linebacker Adam Seward (ankle, did not participate) and running back Jonathan Stewart (heel, full participation).

Frost punts on: One day after McCarthy was grilled by reporters about the continued poor performance of Derrick Frost, the punter was back on the field and spent a lot of time with special teams coach Mike Stock.

"He's trying to cut it too fine," Stock said of Frost, who ranks 25th in the NFL in gross average and 24th in net. "I told him today, 'You've got to cut it loose, you have to be yourself. It's not about thinking, it's about muscle memory. It's about just go do your thing.' "

Frost obviously is feeling the heat. He cut short a brief interview with reporters after he was asked if he can handle criticism.

Not kicking it: Stock took responsibility for the onside kick the Packers failed to convert with 11:45 left in the fourth quarter when they trailed, 45-29.

The Saints surprised the Packers by putting out their "hands" team to receive the kick. If that happened, the Packers were supposed to kick it deep. Stock said he didn't signal the change to Mason Crosby.

"That's my fault," Stock said. "We didn't anticipate them to line up (that way) with 14 minutes left to go in the fourth quarter. . . . They did. I'm trying to get the head coach's attention. He was talking to the people upstairs. I did not want to waste a timeout."

Kamikaze quarterback: Aaron Rodgers said that he would not hesitate to throw his shoulder - even the one he injured against Tampa Bay - into a defender who was returning one of his interceptions, if the opportunity arises again.

Rodgers put a pretty good lick on New Orleans cornerback Jason David after David intercepted an out route to Greg Jennings and then returned the ball down the sideline.

"I'm going to do the same thing if that happens again," Rodgers said. "The exact same thing."

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