GREEN BAY -- Given where he was for most of training camp -- on the sideline, nursing a pulled hamstring -- safety Charlie Peprah never could have envisioned starting for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field.

He was just worried about being cut or placed on season-ending injured reserve.

"I was nervous," said Peprah, who suffered the injury Aug. 5 in practice and wasn't active for a game until the team's Sept. 21 loss to Dallas. "Once I realized the severity of it and I was going to be out for awhile, you never know what they're going to do -- an injury settlement? IR? I tried not to stress myself out about it."

Now, with fellow safeties Atari Bigby (hamstring) and Aaron Rouse (knee) ailing, Peprah is in line to make his first NFL start against the Falcons. He'll open alongside safety Nick Collins (back), who was limited in practice earlier this week but practiced in full on Friday.

Neither Bigby nor Rouse practiced Friday and both are listed as doubtful. Coach Mike McCarthy said Bigby was "sore" after testing the hamstring with trainers on Thursday, while Rouse tried to practice Wednesday before being shut down for the week.

"Charlie will start if Aaron and Atari are not ready, which looks to be the case," McCarthy said. "He's had a good week of practice. He's been here three years now, so he has a complete understanding of the system. I have confidence in all those guys."

Secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer said Peprah was having a strong camp before his injury, much as Bigby came out of nowhere last year to win the starting safety job over veteran Marquand Manuel, among others.

"He was having a heck of a camp. He really caught my eye," Schottenheimer said. "I said, `This may be the Atari Bigby of the 2008 season.' I look forward to seeing him play because I think he can make some plays for us."

Health watch

Linebacker A.J. Hawk (groin, questionable) did not practice Friday and McCarthy said Hawk was sore after two days of rehabilitation work. Brandon Chillar would start in Hawk's place, although McCarthy hinted that Hawk could play on a part-time basis.

Like quarterback Aaron Rodgers (shoulder, questionable), Hawk will be "a game-time decision," McCarthy said.

Collins, left tackle Chad Clifton (knees), wide receiver James Jones (knee), defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (knee) and cornerback Charles Woodson (toe) are all listed as probable for Sunday. Fullback Korey Hall (knee), defensive end Jason Hunter (hamstring) and halfback Kregg Lumpkin (hamstring) are listed as doubtful and won't play. Cornerback Al Harris (spleen) has been ruled out.

For Atlanta, left tackle Sam Baker (illness), nose tackle Grady Jackson (knee) and safety Lawyer Milloy (rib) are questionable but are expected to play. Ex-University of Wisconsin defensive tackle Jason Jefferson (ankle) and wide receiver Laurent Robinson (knee) are doubtful.

Extra points

McCarthy said he and Harris talked "at length" Friday and that Harris is "a bit frustrated" about not playing because he feels fine. "He feels like he's making progress, he's not feeling any pain," McCarthy said. The next step for Harris is for his spleen to be scanned "in a few weeks." ... McCarthy said the team is hoping Woodson's broken toe doesn't regress between now and the team's Week 8 bye on Oct. 26. ... Newly signed defensive end Kenny Pettway said he's up to speed on all the Packers' special teams units and expects to play there. He's also learned some of the playbook for pass-rushing on third down.