GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Receiver Jordy Nelson is gradually rounding back into pre-injury form for the Green Bay Packers.With four touchdown catches in a seasons first three games for the first time in his career, Nelson doesnt appear to have missed a step.But it has been a work in progress overall for the Packers, especially after coach Mike McCarthy took a cautious approach with Nelson and kept him out of preseason action.Frankly, I think we made it difficult on Jordy. I think expectations on him were unrealistic, for him to come out of the preseason and think hes going to go down to (the season opener in) Jacksonville and perform, McCarthy said this week. I think hes exceeded the reality that I had for him.But McCarthys restraint was understandable.Nelson arrived in camp having made a full recovery from a right ACL tear, an injury that knocked him out for the 2015 season.But he also started the preseason with what he described as a minor issue in his left knee . It was concerning enough to the coaching staff that Nelson only started practicing with about a couple of weeks left in training camp.Nelson doesnt think that McCarthy made his return difficult at all.I think my body made it difficult with what happened and some extra stuff we had to do. I think we did what we needed to do to be ready for Week 1, Nelson said on Wednesday after practice.Following a bye last week, Green Bay is preparing to host the New York Giants on Sunday night.That 27-23 win over the Jaguars was played in sweltering, 90-degree heat, not exactly ideal conditions for Nelson to play in his first regular-season game in more than a year. He finished with six catches for 32 yards and a score .I mean, who knows what Week 1 would have been like if it wasnt in Jacksonville, Nelson said. It mightve been different. But weve progressed and Im very satisfied with how its turned out and were continuing to grow.The connection between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Nelson returned in the Week 3 win over Detroit , when Nelson had six catches for 101 yards and two scores. That rapport has been honed over years of work together between two of the teams elder statesmen.If the Packers can maintain that vintage form, the turning point for the offense might have come with 2:49 left in the first quarter of the Lions game. On first down, Rodgers found Nelson up the right seam for a 49-yard gain on first down.Its the kind of big play that the Packers were pulling off with regularity in Nelsons last healthy season in 2014.I think he looked pretty good last game , Rodgers said. Very cerebral, smart, great second, third reactions. Hes a big time player for us and were excited hes back and being productive.The slow start this season -- at least by Packers standards -- made hardcore fans nervous. The conventional wisdom around the league was the Packers offense would return to form as soon as Nelson started catching passes again from Rodgers.Nelson would give the offense the deep threat it desperately needed. That would relieve the extra attention placed on Randall Cobb, who excels with making tough catches in traffic.Younger receivers such as Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery would take their next steps in development to add variety and depth.While Nelson never placed the expectations of being an offensive savior on himself, he was aware of them. The nine-year veteran never judged his progress by catches or receiving yards.So me personally, the way I feel throughout a game, the way I feel on Monday when we come in after a game, how the body recovers by when we practice on Wednesday, I think thats what a lot of it is, Nelson said, and its gotten better and to be honest with you, I wish we didnt have a bye week.Game notes McCarthy ruled out Sam Shields (concussion) for Sunday, the third straight missed game for the cornerback. ... S Morgan Burnett (groin) and LB Clay Matthews (ankle/hamstring), along with DT Letroy Guion, DE/LB Datone Jones, who each have knee injuries, took part in practice again on Thursday after all four key players missed the Lions game.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAPCheap Yeezy . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Clearance Yeezy . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. https://www.fakeyeezywholesaleonline.com/ . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Yeezy China . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Yeezy Outlet . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. After consecutive storybook endings, North Carolina probably could use a little breather, but the Tar Heels are not going to get it.Florida State, the 37-35 victim last week on Nick Weilers 54-yard field goal as time ran out, was just the first of a three-game stretch that likely will determine the postseason fate for the Heels, who have won four in a row since dropping their opener to Georgia.Next up: Virginia Tech on Saturday, the only home date for the Heels in the month of October. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.First-year coach Justin Fuentes Hokies have recovered from a big loss to Tennessee in Bristol and have won their last two game to improve to 3-1 on the season overall and 1-0 in ACC play. They were idle last week as the Tar Heels improved to 2-0 in league play.They look really good on film right now, said Carolina coach Larry Fedora, whose team scored with two seconds left to get by Pittsburgh 37-36 in its league opener a week before knocking off the Seminoles. Maybe even more than I expected since I havent had a chance before now to see them.Theyre playing great football, and I can see why their sitting in the position theyre in right now, ranked in the Top 25.Both the Hokies and the Tar Heels jumped into this weeks poll with the Heels, who were No. 22 in the preseason but dropped out after the loss to the Bulldogs, at No. 17 and the Hokies at No. 25.Coach Fuente has brought a high-powered offense in that has made them extremely explosive, Fedora said, singling out quarterback Jerod Evans for his play. Their quarterback is somebody that can beat you with his legs and his arm.And then you have Bud Foster there dialing it up on the defense. He will make sure they are good on defense.Evans is the teams No. 2 rusher 209 yards to running back Travon McMillians 212 and is passing for an average of 241 yards a game. That works out to an average of over 290 yards a game in total offense for the junior transfer from Trinity Valley (Texas) Commmunity College.ddddddddddddoster, of course, is Techs longtime Tech defensive coordinator, a holdover from coach Frank Beamers staff who has the Hokies at No. 9 in total defense statistically among FBS teams, limiting foes to just 264.3 yards a game rushing and passing.The Hokies are No. 10 in pass defense in giving up just 150.8 yards a game through the air. That goes right at the strength of a North Carolina offense that has averaged 342 yards a game passing behind junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky (76.0 completion percentage and no interceptions in his last 240 pass attempts going back to 2014) and a talented and deep receiving corps.Senior wide receiver Ryan Switzer has a team-high 47 catches for the season, but he has plenty of support from junior Austin Proehl (19 receptions, 269 yards) and seniors Bug Howard (18-261) and Mack Hollins (13-252).Tech doesnt have that kind of depth at receiver but still has experienced a resurgence on offense since behind held to under 400 yards in total offense in the loss to Tennessee. The Hokies recorded a season high 476 yards rushing and passing against a well-regarded Boston College defense and came back with 462 in a win over East Carolina.Like a Krispy Kreme doughnut with the Hot sign on, Hokies wide receiver Cam Phillips said when asked what its been like to be a part of the red-hot offense.This will be Techs first game as a ranked team against a ranked opponent since No. 13 Michigan beat the 17th ranked Hokies in overtime in the 2012 Sugar Bowl.Techs last contest as a ranked team came on Sept. 13, 2014. The Hokies moved into the top 25 after a big road victory over Ohio State, then promptly lost at home to East Carolina the following week.My opinion on being ranked is youre not truly ranked until you defend your rank, Hokies offensive lineman Augie Conte said. The number next to our name wont help us win. ' ' '