by Sports Xchange

The moves haven't officially been made, but all indications are Green Bay will have veteran bookend tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher on the field together for the first time in 11 months.

Clifton and Tauscher received plenty of the reps at left tackle and right tackle, respectively, with the starting offense for the second straight day in practice Thursday. Both practiced again Friday.

"(They) have put together two good practices," head coach Mike McCarthy said. "We're going to take the whole week's work (with them). But, we're definitely further ahead than the past two weeks, as far as their availability and the production."

Clifton hasn't played in four of the last five games because of a recurring right ankle sprain. He would regain the starting spot that rookie T.J. Lang filled the past two weeks.

Tauscher is considered game-ready for the first time since he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee Dec. 7 last season. Since re-signing with the Packers on Oct. 12, nine months after he underwent reconstructive surgery, Tauscher's workload in practice gradually increased, and he's expected to unseat first-year starter Allen Barbre at the spot Sunday.

Clifton, 33, and Tauscher, 32, were mainstays in Green Bay's starting lineup since their rookie seasons in 2000.

"It's comforting because those guys have been playing at a high level for a long time," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "It's nice seeing their faces in the huddle. ... It's good having those guys back. Those guys bring a lot of character to our team, and when they're healthy, they're very good players. They've shown that in the past."

The Packers are hoping that this latest change on the line -- it would be the fourth different starting quintet this season -- can mollify what has been ailing them through seven games. Rodgers has been sacked a league-high 31 times.

"It's a whole unit thing," Tauscher said. "Obviously, the pressure and the emphasis is on the offensive line because the number is so high. As a whole group, no doubt about it, we need to play better up front."

PLAYER NOTES

--QB Aaron Rodgers, as expected, returned to limited practice Friday. Rodgers is nursing a sprained toe and a sprain of the other foot. He should be OK to make the start Sunday at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

--WR Donald Driver returned to limited practice Friday. He is recuperating from a neck injury stemming from a stinger he sustained in the last game.

--CB Charles Woodson returned to practice on a full-time basis Thursday after being given a day off to rest a sore hip that he's had the past couple weeks. Woodson, who leads the team with four interceptions, will be fine to make the start Sunday.

--TE Jermichael Finley has yet to get back on the field since suffering a knee sprain two games ago. He was ruled out for Tampa Bay on Friday.

--WR Jordy Nelson won't play for the third straight game because of a knee sprain.

--C Jason Spitz continues to be bothered by recurring lower back spasms and hasn't returned to the field. He hasn't been able to contribute on the offensive line in the last three games. Scott Wells will remain the starter. Spitz was ruled out Friday.

GAME PLAN: The Packers can ill afford to get too comfortable in the Florida sunshine and lay an egg against the league's only winless team. A week after probably costing itself a shot to contend for the NFC North title -- it's essentially three games behind the front-running Minnesota Vikings -- Green Bay's season would be in dire straits if it falls to 4-4 at the halfway mark. Not having quarterback Aaron Rodgers healthy is a concern, but he's expected to fight through injuries to both feet to make the start. The Packers can lessen his physical burden, as well as the mental toll on an offensive line that has been mostly responsible for Rodgers' league-high 31 sacks, by pounding the football at will against Tampa Bay's anemic run defense. The Buccaneers rank third from the bottom in the league, allowing an average of 162.4 rushing yards per game. Problem is, Green Bay has sputtered more often than not on the ground, so Rodgers still might be needed to provide a spark through the air. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers has been criticized, including by a few of his players, for not being as aggressive as his 3-4 scheme is advertised. In the wake of another tepid performance against Brett Favre and the Vikings, the opportunity is ripe for an all-out assault on rookie Josh Freeman in his first start at quarterback. The Packers can take all kinds of blitz-happy risks because the Bucs don't pose a threat running the football. If Green Bay doesn't shore up its kick coverage after being overrun by Minnesota's Percy Harvin, fellow rookie Sammie Stroughter could perpetuate the Packers' problems on special teams.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Packers WR Greg Jennings vs. Buccaneers CB Aqib Talib. Jennings had a big game in the Packers' loss at Tampa Bay last season, catching six passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Talib and Ronde Barber took their turns in one-on-one coverage on Jennings in that contest. The Packers like to move Jennings from one side to the other depending on the formation, so perhaps the Bucs will settle on having just Talib, who normally works on the left side, stick with Jennings the whole time. Talib is a physical corner in press coverage and has good closing speed in space. He has four interceptions this season.

Packers defense vs. Buccaneers TE Kellen Winslow. The Packers see Winslow for the first time in his six-year career -- he missed the entire 2005 season while with the Cleveland Browns, who played a game at Green Bay. Trying to contain a playmaking tight end has been an Achilles' heel for the Packers, and the 6-foot-4 Winslow has been a focal point in Tampa Bay's otherwise sputtering offense. He has four touchdown catches in his first season with the Bucs and probably will be a security blanket for rookie Josh Freeman in his starting debut at quarterback Sunday. The Packers won't have Brandon Chillar, their best linebacker in pass coverage, after he suffered a broken hand in the previous game. Green Bay should be able to get away with covering the Bucs' unimpressive receiving corps man up, so that would free one of the safeties (Atari Bigby or Nick Collins) to shadow Winslow over the middle.