GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Jared Cook, Ty Montgomery and Sam Barrington were activated off the Green Bay Packers' physically unable to perform list Tuesday. But the bigger news is that Jordy Nelson was not.
Nelson's return remains in the air, while quarterback Aaron Rodgers will finally get the chance to work with Cook, the Packers' lone free-agent signing on offense, for the first time in full pads. Rodgers will also get to work with Montgomery for the first time since he went on injured reserve last season.
There's a chance, though, that Rodgers and Nelson might not get any work together before the regular season. Nelson experienced a setback with his left knee this summer
"Jordy, I know what he's all about," Rodgers said. "I can throw to him to spots probably with my eyes closed sometimes, but it would be nice to get out there with Jared and Ty at some point. Practice would be the most important thing, and then if we get the chance in the game, that would be great, too."
Nelson and center Corey Linsley (hamstring) are the only remaining players on the Packers' PUP list.
Cook, who signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Packers in March, underwent foot surgery in June. Montgomery hasn't played since Week 6 of last season and recently detailed to ESPN.com just how severe his ankle injury was.
While all three returned to practice Tuesday, it's unlikely they will play against the Browns.
It's not even a sure thing that Rodgers will play. He would not have played in last Sunday's Hall of Fame game even if it had not been canceled because of poor field conditions.
"Really, the focus is more on [backup quarterback] Brett Hundley and our two young guys," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "That's the target we need to hit as far as giving those three men the opportunity and amount of work. I'm more worried about them three than I am about Aaron Rodgers."
The only thing certain for Rodgers is that he will practice this week. He hasn't done anything since last Wednesday, sitting out Thursday's practice because he wasn't going to play in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday.
Rodgers said he worked out on the field in Canton, Ohio on Sunday well before the game.
"I think I was probably the only guy who worked out on Sunday, because I was out there so early running around and doing some stuff with our strength staff," he said.
Rodgers said it was during that workout that he realized the game probably wasn't going to be played.
"I noticed right away the end zones were firm," Rodgers said. "It was like a plastic consistency, and I was surprised by that. When I went out the second time to see if Scott [Tolzien] maybe was going to be out there and Andrew [Luck], I could tell there was something going on. They made the decision in the interest of player safety. The substance they were trying to get the paint off with, I can promise you, was not health-conscious at all. So I think they ultimately made the right decision.
"The tough part is you have so many fans there who paid money to be at the game, so that's the disappointing part. And then obviously with Marquise and Joe getting a chance, and any of the healthy young players, but those guys in my room, it would've been fun to see those guys play."