Packers' defense getting better

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- We won't know how the Packers' defense will look until shortly before kickoff on Sunday night. But it does appear Green Bay will be able to put a better defense on the field than it did last week, when it was missing five starters in a home loss to the Dolphins.

It appears inside linebacker Brandon Chillar (shoulder) and outside linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) both will play, although they are listed as questionable. The Packers also will put safety Anthony Smith on the 45-man game-day roster, coach Mike McCarthy said. Smith, who was with the Packers briefly before the 2009 season, was reacquired in a trade with Jacksonville on Monday. He'll definitely play special teams and could see some time at strong safety considering Charlie Peprah is a third-teamer who had to start the past two games.

Meanwhile, coach Mike McCarthy is holding out hope that DL Ryan Pickett's ankle will respond favorably from limited participation in Friday's practice. McCarthy also is contemplating whether or not to activate CB Al Harris (knee) and/or SS Atari Bigby (ankle) from the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list. It appears based on McCarthy's comments this week that both are ready to come off PUP. They had good weeks of practice, but the Packers have three weeks to make that decision.

Here's what McCarthy had to say about some of the new faces that could be in the lineup or back in the lineup this week:

On Chillar: "I thought he has really put together a good week. Actually Brandon was down there after practice. That's why I was running up here a little late. Did some padded work just to make sure he's ready to go with his shoulder."

On how he feels about Matthews status: "Feel good. I thought he did more today than he did yesterday. It's a typical Friday practice as far as the length and the number of reps. So barring any setback, I think he'll be ready to go."

On whether Matthews could be activated and used just as a rusher in the nickel defense: "Good question. That's really part of the communication today. We had a staff meeting this morning, and then we'll have our game management this afternoon and we'll talk about those things in that meeting and then we'll go forward with it tomorrow morning with the players. But that's definitely an option. It's an option we were shooting for last week."

On Bigby and Harris: "I think Al Harris and Atari, what's nice about their week is you see them more and more comfortable as the week went on. Whether they'll go this week or not, that's something to be determined. But I thought they clearly were getting more comfortable as the week went on."

On Smith: "Anthony has jumped right in. He's really picked up where he left off. He still has excellent recall of the defense. Special teams, him and Shawn Slocum have spent a lot of extra time together. Anthony will be part of our 45 on Sunday."

As far as getting anyone back on offense, it doesn't appear that OT Mark Tauscher (shoulder) is ready to return. He's listed as questionable.

McCarthy said: "Had a positive report about Mark Tauscher this morning from the doctors. They feel he's making progress. As far as his status for this week, we have a lot to talk about today in our game management, whether it's Mark Tauscher and a number of players that came back. Everything walking off the field is like most weeks, everybody feels good and everything is positive, but until we have an opportunity to sit down and talk as a staff and really just see how a few of the players come in in the morning, we won't really be able to make final decisions. Our inactives are a little more up in the air, like they have been the last three weeks."

The guess here is the Vikings will see:

. Matthews come back in mostly a pass rushing role.

. Harris come back and play in the nickel.

. Smith see some time at strong safety.

. Bigby to rest another week because the team has extra depth after trading for Smith.