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LB A.J. Hawk (2x All-American, Lombardi Trophy, National Champion, Super Bowl Champion)

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Underrated defense expected to lead Packers in '08

Linebacker A.J. Hawk said defensive players are embracing McCarthy's expectations.
"He got the point across to us pretty early in the offseason that we want to come out and set the tone," Hawk said. "As a defense, we felt like that all the time, and it's good to hear."
But Hawk has been hurting in recent weeks, sidelined with what has vaguely been described as a chest sprain. And he's not the only starter struggling with injuries ? a troubling sign for a team whose health was an underrated factor in its success last season.
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Hawk ahead of schedule
Injured linebacker A.J. Hawk is ahead of the doctor?s schedule, but McCarthy said that doesn?t guarantee he will be available on Monday.

McCarthy finally revealed that the chest injury Hawk sustained in the preseason opener against Cincinnati on Aug. 11 is ?a muscle strain in his chest.? Previously, McCarthy and Hawk had been vague about the injury.

?A.J. has done exactly what we all thought he would do,? McCarthy said. ?He?s way ahead of schedule, and that?s the problem that you have when you have to make these types of decisions. The doctor has a criteria of what he thinks the time frame may be, and then you have the individual, who has no history of being injured, and (he) just attacked (the rehabilitation). ? It?s going to come down to when the doctor makes the final call. But if you asked A.J., he?s say he could play yesterday.?
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Notebook: Wells' bad back flares up again | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette
 
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Notebook: Outlook positive for Hawk
By Tom Pelissero ? [email protected] ? September 4, 2008

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Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said A.J. Hawk ?was flying around? and ?looked like his normal self? in his return to practice ? positive signs for the starting weak-side linebacker?s chances for playing in Monday?s regular-season opener against Minnesota.

Hawk, who never missed a practice or game at Ohio State or in his first two NFL seasons, hadn?t practiced since straining a muscle in his chest in the preseason opener on Aug. 11. But he was wearing a helmet and shoulder pads as he went through individual drills during the portion of Thursday?s practice that was open to the media and later ?was right in the middle of it? during contact drills, according to McCarthy.

?In his mind, he feels he has been ready for quite some time,? McCarthy said of Hawk, who was listed as a limited participant on the injury report.

?So, it is a combination of the individual and it is a combination of the doctor?s report. As far the movement and so forth, I think he is really past all of those stages, whether it?s pushing, reaching, pulling. It?s just a matter of Pat McKenzie, our doctor, clearing him to play.?
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Notebook: Outlook positive for Hawk | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette
 
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Notes: Hawk returns but status still in air
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
[email protected]
Posted: Sept. 4, 2008

Green Bay - Convinced that he was as ready as he kept telling them he was, the Green Bay Packers medical staff cleared linebacker A.J. Hawk to practice Thursday, leaving open the possibility he will be in the starting lineup Monday night against Minnesota.

Hawk, who has been sidelined three weeks with a chest muscle strain, took part in a limited portion of practice inside the Don Hutson Center, according to coach Mike McCarthy. During the segment open to reporters, Hawk didn't do much but McCarthy said he was allowed to bang around without any restrictions.

"He was in the middle of it," McCarthy said.

Hawk injured himself in the exhibition opener tackling Cincinnati tight end Ben Utecht and had been held out of any contact until his return Thursday. Over the past week or so, Hawk has been pushing hard to get cleared to return, but the medical staff played it safe and waited until it was sure he was ready.

McCarthy did not speculate on whether Hawk would be ready for the Vikings and Hawk was not available for comment after practice. But all indications are that he has made a lot of progress.

"We knew that A.J. was going to rehab at a rapid pace, and in his mind he feels he has been ready for quite some time," McCarthy said. "As far as movement and so forth, I think he is really past all of those stages, whether it's pushing, reaching, pulling. It's just a matter of Pat McKenzie, our doctor, clearing him to play."
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JS Online: Notes: Hawk returns but status still in air
 
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Notebook: Packers cautious with Hawk
By Tom Pelissero ? [email protected] ? September 6, 2008

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It?s not Brett Favre?s 275 consecutive starts, but A.J. Hawk has his own iron-man streak he?d like to keep intact.

So, if his chest is pain-free, and he?s been cleared to practice, what?s keeping the Green Bay Packers? medical staff from declaring Hawk fit to play in the opener?

?It?s really just trying to figure out if they feel like I?ve had enough time, they keep saying, to heal properly and to not have a chance to re(injure) it,? Hawk said on Saturday. ?That?s what they?re still kind of mulling over. ? I guess for me, it?s good at least that they?re talking. I have a chance.?

Hawk would like to have more than a chance for suiting up on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings ? he wants to be in his starting linebacker spot, as he has been for every game that?s counted since he became a starter at Ohio State in 2003.

Hawk, who never missed a practice in college or in his first two NFL seasons, missed three preseason games and 10 practices after straining a chest muscle in the preseason opener on Aug. 11 ? four weeks before the regular-season opener. He returned on Thursday, wearing a harness that since has been modified to better fit inside his jersey, and practiced three consecutive days without incident.
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Notebook: Packers cautious with Hawk | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette
 
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LB A.J. Hawk has been removed from the Packers' injury report but will wear a brace to protect his injured chest muscle for at least one more game. Hawk, who was hurt in the Packers' first preseason game but played Monday night, said the brace didn't limit him very much. "I can't get my arm all the way extended back if I get, say someone fell on my arm and ripped it back," Hawk said. "The brace would stop that, my body going with that. That's probably the main thing they don't want to have happen again."
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