Bolts OT McNeill says he is fully recovered from knee surgery

San Diego Chargers tackle Marcus McNeill told Sirius XM NFL Radio on Monday that he underwent a minor surgical procedure on his knee in February, but has fully recovered.

McNeill, who joined the radio program on Memorial Day to discuss his upbringing in a military family, signed a five-year contract extension with the Chargers last October and started the final 11 games after a lengthy holdout.

Because last season was uncapped, McNeill was a restricted free agent even though his original four-year contract expired after the 2009 campaign. When he didn't sign his one-year, $3.168 million tender by June 15, the Chargers reduced the amount to 110 percent of his 2009 salary, or $630,000. McNeill sat out training camp and the first two games before signing the tender.

McNeill was a second-round pick by the Chargers in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Auburn, and made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season and 2007. The 6-foot-7, 336-pound veteran has started all 73 games he's appeared in.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Packers LB Zombo fully participates in practice; Walden limited

The Green Bay Packers' uncertainties at outside linebacker were on display Wednesday when they took the practice field for the first time since arriving in Dallas for Super Bowl XLV.

Frank Zombo, a rookie starter who has missed six games because of a knee injury, was a full participant in the session at Highland Park High School's indoor facility and hopes to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Arlington, Texas.

Erik Walden, who replaced Zombo in the starting lineup but sustained an ankle injury in the NFC Championship Game victory over the Chicago Bears, was limited. He primarily worked out with the second-team defense.

"How Erik responds to this practice will be big," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "He practiced and took reps in every team drill. That was the high end of what we were going to try to give him today. It'll be great if he feels good tomorrow.

"Frank looks good. I wanted to get him as much padded work as possible. It seems like Dec. 12 is the last time he's been in pads. We even got him a bunch of reps on special teams, too."

Zombo, an undrafted rookie who broke into Green Bay's lineup in Week 8 after four linebackers went on injured reserve, returned to practice Friday. He suffered a sprained right knee during a Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Offensive tackle Chad Clifton (knees) and center Jason Spitz (calf) also were limited Wednesday.

Notes: McCarthy focused on the usual in Wednesday's practice: base packages, third-down situations and specific special-teams scenarios. "The guys are fresh, they're ready," McCarthy said. "I want to keep the risk for injury low leading up to the game, which is why we shortened some things today. But it was good to get back in pads. The guys were flying around; they were banging pretty good. I feel very good about the quality of work, particularly up front. I did not put the pads on them last week because we were coming off a situation where we had played five must-win games in a row, and our linemen were beat up. I wanted to make sure I gave them a chance to get back, and it definitely paid off today." ... Kicker Mason Crosby and punter Tim Masthay worked out at Cowboys Stadium before Wednesday's practice and could do so again.

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