Injured safety Nick Collins no longer is wearing his neck brace after hurting his neck in an early-season game requiring him to be placed on injured reserve. "Collins made an appearance in the locker room Thursday and took some time to speak with the media about his recovery process from neck fusion surgery," writes Kareem Copeland at PackersNews.com. "He is now free from the neck brace – it came off last Friday – and plans to travel with the team to all of the road games." Collins talked about enjoying the teacher role he's assumed now that he's not playing this season, but he continued to talk in terms of his career possibly being over.

More on Nick Collins appears at ESPNMilwaukee.com and Fox Sports Wisconsin.

Center Scott Wells has gotten some attention for his high level of play this season. "The eighth-year player out of Tennessee is the brains behind an offensive line that helped Rodgers and the Packers pass their way to a Super Bowl championship last season and a 7-0 start going into Sunday's game at San Diego," writes Chris Jenkins of the Associated Press. "Wells comes as close as anybody to mistake-free play most weeks, and he might understand Mike McCarthy's offense as well as anyone." You have to wonder if Wells might be a candidate for something like the franchise tag, although I'm sure he'd like to avoid that.

More on Scott Wells comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com and the Packers official website.

Linebacker Clay Matthews said he's feeling healthy and it's perhaps no coincidence that his production is starting to ramp up. "It sure looks that way," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. "Matthews, who enters Sunday’s game at San Diego with three sacks after registering 23.5 during his first two NFL seasons, has tallied a sack in each of the past two games after managing just one in the season’s first five games." Matthews practiced for two consecutive days this week. He was taking a lot of time off earlier this season with a nagging quadriceps injury.

More on Clay Matthews comes from Packer Report.

Like Clay Matthews, the Packers are getting healthy, which isn't the case with their opponent on Sunday. "On Wednesday, nine San Diego players sat out practice, six of them starters," writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The Chargers played Monday, so it wasn't a surprise that a good number of players missed the first day of practice." The only Packers who didn't practice on Thursday were Chad Clifton and Mike Neal.

More on the health of the Packers comes from JSOnline, the Press-Gazette, PackersNews.com, ESPNMilwaukee.com and Fox Sports Wisconsin.

Tight end Andrew Quarless is featured in an article by Kareem Copeland." Quarless, a natural receiving tight end, has put a premium on the development of an all-around game — a better understanding of the playbook, blocking and special teams," writes Copeland. "But the lone reception easily was his highlight of the season — and not just because of the catch." The lone catch referred to came in the Packers' last game at Minnesota in which Quarless knocked Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen to the ground before hauling in a pass from Aaron Rodgers.

Kicker Mason Crosby has a new, relaxed state of mind this season, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's all part of Crosby's new attitude this season. He's living stress-free, he's at peace," writes Dunne. "Married, with a son, Crosby says football no longer consumes him 24/7. Off the field, perspective drives him. And on the field, special teams coach Shawn Slocum has given Crosby the freedom to swing away on kickoffs. The result is a career season. Through seven games, the fifth-year kicker is a perfect 14 for 14. He has nailed kicks from 56 yards (at Atlanta) and 58 yards (at Minnesota)." He has a high number of touchbacks this season too, which says something about the high number of times the Packers have scored, but that's still positive regardless.

The Packers' run defense get some attention in a post by Tyler Dunne at JSOnline.

The defense must also content with Chargers tight end Antonio Gates.

Charlie Peprah and Howard Green have a bet for Saturday's big college football game between LSU and Alabama.

Defensive lineman is playing a ton of snaps. Packer Report (subscription required) examines whether it's affecting him.

Linebacker Vic So'oto has to play on special teams to see the field, according to Packer Report (sub required).

Aaron Rodgers was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. ESPNMilwaukee.com and PackersNews.com has more.

Aaron Rodgers answers some questions in a video from TMJ4 in Milwaukee.com.

Charles Woodson joins Aaron Rodgers as hypothetical mid-season award winners from John McClain at the Houston Chronicle.

Former Packer Ahmad Carroll signed with the Orlando Predators of the Arena League.

Nickelback won't be playing at halftime of the Packers' Thanksgiving game if fans have anything to do with it.

Video: Aaron Rodgers is discussed in this week's episode of the Insiders from the Press-Gazette...

Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].