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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Receiver Jordy Nelson is gradually rounding back into pre-injury form for the Green Bay Packers.With four touchdown catches in a seasons first three games for the first time in his career, Nelson doesnt appear to have missed a step.But it has been a work in progress overall for the Packers, especially after coach Mike McCarthy took a cautious approach with Nelson and kept him out of preseason action.Frankly, I think we made it difficult on Jordy. I think expectations on him were unrealistic, for him to come out of the preseason and think hes going to go down to (the season opener in) Jacksonville and perform, McCarthy said this week. I think hes exceeded the reality that I had for him.But McCarthys restraint was understandable.Nelson arrived in camp having made a full recovery from a right ACL tear, an injury that knocked him out for the 2015 season.But he also started the preseason with what he described as a minor issue in his left knee . It was concerning enough to the coaching staff that Nelson only started practicing with about a couple of weeks left in training camp.Nelson doesnt think that McCarthy made his return difficult at all.I think my body made it difficult with what happened and some extra stuff we had to do. I think we did what we needed to do to be ready for Week 1, Nelson said on Wednesday after practice.Following a bye last week, Green Bay is preparing to host the New York Giants on Sunday night.That 27-23 win over the Jaguars was played in sweltering, 90-degree heat, not exactly ideal conditions for Nelson to play in his first regular-season game in more than a year. He finished with six catches for 32 yards and a score .I mean, who knows what Week 1 would have been like if it wasnt in Jacksonville, Nelson said. It mightve been different. But weve progressed and Im very satisfied with how its turned out and were continuing to grow.The connection between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Nelson returned in the Week 3 win over Detroit , when Nelson had six catches for 101 yards and two scores. That rapport has been honed over years of work together between two of the teams elder statesmen.If the Packers can maintain that vintage form, the turning point for the offense might have come with 2:49 left in the first quarter of the Lions game. On first down, Rodgers found Nelson up the right seam for a 49-yard gain on first down.Its the kind of big play that the Packers were pulling off with regularity in Nelsons last healthy season in 2014.I think he looked pretty good last game , Rodgers said. Very cerebral, smart, great second, third reactions. Hes a big time player for us and were excited hes back and being productive.The slow start this season -- at least by Packers standards -- made hardcore fans nervous. The conventional wisdom around the league was the Packers offense would return to form as soon as Nelson started catching passes again from Rodgers.Nelson would give the offense the deep threat it desperately needed. That would relieve the extra attention placed on Randall Cobb, who excels with making tough catches in traffic.Younger receivers such as Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery would take their next steps in development to add variety and depth.While Nelson never placed the expectations of being an offensive savior on himself, he was aware of them. The nine-year veteran never judged his progress by catches or receiving yards.So me personally, the way I feel throughout a game, the way I feel on Monday when we come in after a game, how the body recovers by when we practice on Wednesday, I think thats what a lot of it is, Nelson said, and its gotten better and to be honest with you, I wish we didnt have a bye week.Game notes McCarthy ruled out Sam Shields (concussion) for Sunday, the third straight missed game for the cornerback. ... S Morgan Burnett (groin) and LB Clay Matthews (ankle/hamstring), along with DT Letroy Guion, DE/LB Datone Jones, who each have knee injuries, took part in practice again on Thursday after all four key players missed the Lions game.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP Wholesale Nike MLB Jerseys . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Signed Nike MLB Jerseys . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. http://www.cheapmlbjerseyssigned.com/ . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Nike MLB Jerseys Autographed . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Authentic Nike MLB Gear .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. OTTAWA, Ontario -- Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau broke into the NHL nearly 20 years ago. The 37-year-olds are having too much fun with the San Jose Sharks to think up hanging up their skates.I feel great, Marleau said. (Im) having fun out there so Ill keep going.Thornton logged more than 25 minutes Wednesday night in Ottawa, while Marleau played 22 minutes in the Sharks 4-3 victory over the Senators, their second shootout win in two nights.San Jose holds the puck more often than not when Thornton and Marleau take the ice. Thornton ranks second on the team in puck possession (55 percent), with Marleau just a touch back in third (54 percent).I think both of us love the game and we still feel we can play the game at a high, high level and want to contribute each and every night, said Marleau, born two months after Thornton in 1979.Thornton and Marleau are among the most productive players of the last decades, two stunning marvels of fitness who rarely miss a game. Ten players in the NHL this season werent even born when Thornton and Marleau were drafted in 1997.Marleau has missed only 31 games over more than 18 seasons since he was drafted second overall behind Thornton in 1997. He ranks first in games played among all NHL players during that stretch (1,472), last sitting out a game during the 2008-09 season.Thornton isnt far behind. He has played in 95 percent of possible games for the Boston Bruins and Sharks, missing a mere nine games since the start of the 2006-07 season.Marleau credits his longevity to adjustments in training, eating, stretching and exercise as well as a new approach to rest. The Sharks annually face some of the leagues most arduous travel and coach Pete DeBoer has made it a priority to ensure that his players, especially the old guys, get to recover.I think there wasnt too much emphasis on rest and recovery right when we first came into the league, Marleau said. Now you see a lot more teams talking about it and taking a lot more optional skates, especially with a west coast team that travels as much as we do.dddddddddddd. A lot of practices are video, going over video and things like that.Thornton is tops in points (1,360) and assists (981) since joining the league. The underrated Marleau ranks fifth in points (1,047) during that same 19-year span and also fifth in goals (488). Hell likely become the 45th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals at some point this season.Both endure in different ways. Never the swiftest on skates, Thornton employs superb passing, vision, and an undervalued ability to protect the puck. Marleau has long been a terrific skater with persistence and a scorers touch.But at the end of the day I think their hockey sense stands alone, Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said. They know how to work their way around the rink, make plays, win battles, those types of things, put themselves in good positions and thats allowed for good careers. Theres no secret, you need a little luck along the way, but those guys have earned everything theyve got.Still, Thornton and Marleau are certainly not the players they once were.Thornton is on pace for a 30-point dropoff from last seasons 82-point campaign and his lowest point total in a full season since he was a teenager in Boston. He hasnt scored in 17 straight games after finishing with 19 goals last season.Marleau is only slightly off-pace for his 14th 20-goal season, but hes also on track for a career-low 31 points.And yet the Sharks are undeniably a better team when either player is on the ice. San Jose generates the lions share of scoring chances when Thornton and Marleau are out there at even-strength.Both remain weapons on the power play, too.Both are also unrestricted free agents with uncertain futures at seasons end. Asked last March about playing as long as 44-year-old Jaromir Jagr, Thornton responded: If I feel good Id love to play that long, but right now its hard to say if I could. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '