PACKER INJURIES: Javon Walker, Green Bay's most productive receiver, returned to practice Thursday. But starting wideouts Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson remained out along with starting cornerbacks Mike McKenzie and Al Harris.
Of them, only McKenzie, who has missed two games with turf toe, is questionable for Sunday. The rest are probable. Coach Mike Sherman said he will have a good idea by today if McKenzie will play or if Michael Hawthorne will make his third consecutive start.
Driver has a sprained ankle and Ferguson a bruised Achilles' tendon that sidelined him last week. Harris has a sore knee. Walker has a balky knee and sore hamstring.
ALMOST A COWBOY: After five years as a backup for New Orleans, Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme will make his first playoff start Saturday against the team he spurned.
"Carolina and Dallas were the two places that I visited in the offseason," Delhomme said. "I just think it was a better fit for me and my career at this time to be in Carolina. They have done some good things, and we have done some good things. And I couldn't be happier here in Carolina."
Delhomme replaced Rodney Peete during the season opener.
"I just like guys like him. I've had a few like that before, who are spunky and competitive," Dallas coach Bill Parcells said. "He is not classic in any manner of speaking, but I just like him. There is something about him. It looked to me that he had good leadership qualities. He didn't seem to be afraid."
GOING FOR TWO: In a 24-20 victory Nov. 23, the Cowboys allowed Pro Bowl running back Stephen Davis to gain only 59 yards on 26 carries.
This time, though, they must be even better because the margin of error is too small with a hit-and-miss Cowboys offense providing little support.
The loss to New Orleans on Sunday was an example. The Cowboys stifled 1,000-yard running back Deuce McAllister but allowed a 76-yard touchdown from Aaron Brooks to Donte' Stallworth in a 13-7 loss.
"We've got to play a perfect game," linebacker Dexter Coakley said. "We've got to try to create some turnovers on defense. We need to try to get the ball to the offense as many chances as we can."
