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This is the first time in his two-year NFL career that Briggs has played any kind of a significant role on special teams. He’s on the backside of the kickoff coverage team, on the front line of the kickoff return team, the left tackle on the punt team and in the middle of the punt return team, where he almost blocked a punt last week.

“No one really gave me a chance (to play special teams),” Briggs said. “In San Francisco, they told me I wasn’t contributing enough on special teams, so they had to let me go. In Denver, it was hard to break in because they had their guys.”

Despite playing in just three games, Briggs ranks eighth on the team with five special teams tackles.

Other injuries

McCarthy said Erik Walden will make his first start for the Packers at right outside linebacker in place of the injured Frank Zombo (knee), who didn’t practice all week and was listed as doubtful.

Walden has played spot duty as a pass-rusher since he was signed on Oct. 27 but hasn’t played much against the run.

“He’s improved in that area,” Capers said. “(Outside linebackers coach) Kevin Greene does a good job of teaching guys to set their hips and strike. I think a lot of players in this league get too concerned about where the ball is. You’ve got to beat the guy in front of you first and control him.”

Linebacker Desmond Bishop was added to the injury report because of a hamstring but was listed as probable and was expected to start.

Left guard Daryn Colledge appears to have dodged a significant knee injury. After being a full participant in practice for the first time all week, he is expected to start.

Odds and ends

Lions linebacker Landon Johnson, whose hit after Rodgers failed to slide on a scramble led to his concussion, was not fined by the NFL. … Before coming to the Packers in 2009, Capers spent one season coaching under Patriots coach Bill Belichick as the defensive backs coach. “It was the first time in 17 years I wasn’t a head coach or coordinator,” Capers said. “I looked at it as a productive year. Bill’s been the best in the league the last 10 years, and I felt it would be a very valuable year to study how he runs the operation.”