After a six-game stay, it might be leaving the station.

Harrell was told to sit out the first two days of practice this week as he tries to get past a hip injury that has bothered him the past few weeks. He will test the injury on Friday in hopes of playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Considering his injury history, the Packers could very well take the cautious route with the team's first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2007 draft for the rest of the season.

"He's never really been able to get healthy," coach Mike McCarthy said. "His snaps have been limited, and I thought there was some progress in the pass rush part of it and a little progress in the run blocking. Once again, he's a young player that's kind of going through a medical stage right now. We just have to keep working with him to get through it."

Injuries have been a problem for Harrell dating back to college at the University of Tennessee.

With the Volunteers, Harrell was healthy for just his junior season (2005). At other times, he dealt with a leg surgery (2003), ankle sprains ('03 and 2004) and a biceps-tendon surgery (2006). That latter injury forced him to miss off-season workouts with the Packers as a rookie. He then missed five games with an ankle injury and was active for seven.

Harrell reported in questionable condition for off-season workouts this year and promptly injured his back and needed surgery. The pain never subsided, so Harrell had a second surgery on Aug. 25 to remove bone fragments.

He was activated before the Nov. 2 game against the Tennessee Titans and had 13 total tackles in his first four games. Playing mostly in pass rush situations, Harrell did not register a tackle in the past two games.

Now Harrell, who was not in the locker room during the period open to the media, appears to be back where he started.

"Injuries are part of our game," McCarthy said. "They're frustrating for everybody involved. More importantly, I know they're frustrating for the player. I've seen individuals go through this at different points in their career, and I think Justin is going through a rough patch with injuries."

Two and counting: The Packers have a vested interest in the New York Jets making the playoffs this year.

Under terms of the Brett Favre trade, the Packers received a fourth-round pick that could become a third-, second- or first-round pick, based on various conditions. If Favre plays in 50% of the Jets' snaps, the Packers receive a third-round pick.

If he plays in 70% and the Jets make the playoffs, the Packers receive a second.

If he plays in 80% of the snaps and the Jets make it to the Super Bowl, the Packers receive a first.

Even if he doesn't play another down, Favre has already crossed the 50% and 70% thresholds, if you pro-rate over 16 games the number of plays the Jets have had this season. So in order for the pick to be a No. 2, the Jets merely have to make the playoffs.

New York is in a three-way tie with Miami and New England at 8-5 for the AFC East lead. If the Jets don't win the division, they may not make the playoffs, because Baltimore and Indianapolis are both 9-4 and riding long winning streaks.

If Favre retires after this season, the Packers have to give back a low-round pick in 2010 based on the value of the pick they are receiving.

If it's a third, they have to give back a seventh; if it's a second, they give back a sixth; and if it's a first, they give back a fifth.

Injury report: In addition to Harrell, safety Atari Bigby (shoulder) and fullback Korey Hall (knee) did not participate in practice. Hall is unlikely to play against the Jaguars, and Bigby has already been ruled out. McCarthy said cornerback Charles Woodson would make his third straight start at safety.

Linebacker Brandon Chillar tested his injured groin but it did not look promising. Defensive end Jeremy Thompson (ankle) thought his test went well and is hopeful he'll practice today. Linebacker Danny Lansanah (arm/ankle) and tackle Ryan Pickett (illness) were limited participants.

Jaguars running back Fred Taylor tore ligaments in his left thumb in Sunday's game against Chicago and could land on injured reserve as soon as today, depending on the prognosis by Dr. James Andrews. The team placed fullback Greg Jones (ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday, the same day the team worked out former Jaguar running backs LaBrandon Toefield and Alvin Pearman.

Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel (toe) and receiver Jerry Porter (groin) did not practice.

Practice makes perfect: The Packers signed three players to their practice squad, including defensive tackle Fred Bledsoe, who previously had been with the Packers from Sept. 24 to Nov. 13.

Also added were a pair of rookies: 5-11, 196-pound cornerback Joshua Abrams and 6-foot, 225-pound running back Steven Korte. Abrams played at Ohio University and Korte at LSU.

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