Next game: Sunday, October 12 at Seattle
Packers Gameday at 12:00 p.m. on Newsradio 620 WTMJ, a live blog here and coverage on Live at 10 on TODAY'S TMJ4

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packer defense, desperate for reinforcements, is anxiously awaiting the return of 2007 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell from the physically unable to perform list despite his record of injury problems as a rookie last year.

"Whooooo! That'd help us a lot," veteran defensive tackle Ryan Pickett said as the Packers prepared for this week's game at Seattle. "That'll be great when he comes back, as far as just having another body that's good, physical, can play the run. It's going to help us with our rotation, help us stay fresh."

Harrell has been out of action after a second back surgery Aug. 25. Although he's eligible to return to practice and be added to the 53-man roster starting on Monday, the Packers can take up to three weeks before they must decide to activate him or put him on season-ending injured reserve.

Harrell said he'd been avoiding the locker room during media availability periods to not draw attention to himself, but when he appeared earlier this week after one of his typical three-hour workouts with the training staff and strength and conditioning coaches, Harrell said he'd lost "15 to 20 pounds" and could have returned to action sooner had he not been designated as physically unable to perform.

"I'm getting excited. It's been a long six weeks," said Harrell, who was inactive for nine of the first 11 games as a rookie last season due to injury.

"I didn't want to start the season off like this, but it happened, and I'm just trying to make the best of it. Now that window's about to open, and we're going to see what happens from there. Everything's great. I'm just looking forward to it."

Harrell's first surgery was this spring, to trim a herniated disk he'd suffered while lifting weights in March, a week after the offseason conditioning program began. When the pain didn't subside and he wasn't cleared for training camp, he sought a second opinion, which led to the discovery of other debris in his back.

"I haven't had any pain whatsoever since the second surgery," Harrell said. "As far as my back breaking down, I'm assured this will not be a problem."

Defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn said he wasn't sure how much Harrell would contribute immediately, but "the trainers are all talking about how hard he's working to come back and how he's close. We just have to wait and get him out there and see where we are."

To Harrell's credit, he's been vigilant about his workouts and rehabilitation work, and he's also kept a low profile.

"I was trying to stay low key. I didn't want to bring attention to me. I was just trying to get myself right and make sure I'm doing everything I can to get healthy again," Harrell said.

Asked about reports that he quickly fell out of shape during the offseason and in some ways brought the injury on himself, Harrell replied, "I don't know what I could've eaten to keep my back disk from herniating. I don't know.

"Maybe I could've ate more vegetables. As for working out, it happened within the first week we came back up here. I don't know a guy who goes home from a long season and really hits the weights like they should. If I would've hit the weights like I should, maybe it would've happened sooner than it did. Who's to know? All I know it's a disc herniation, and I don't know how to prevent them, and I don't know what causes them.

"Hopefully I can get out there and start playing. That was my main motivation. With the injuries we're having and the depth problems, it'd be good for me to get out there. I'm feeling good, I'm moving, and I'll be ready to go when they do activate me."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)