Packers activated DE Mike Neal from the suspended list.

There was some uncertainty if Green Bay was going to activate Neal in time for Week 5 against the Colts. He'll add depth behind Ryan Pickett and C.J. Wilson at the end spots. Phillip Merling was released in a corresponding move.

It's uncertain whether the Packers will activate DE Mike Neal for Week 5.

Neal impressed the Green Bay Packers coaching staff with his work in practice all week, but their is no indication he will be declared active by the 3 p.m. deadline Saturday in order for him to play in the team's game at Indianapolis on Sunday. "We haven't made any decisions yet on Mike Neal's situation. We have some more talking, meetings, discussion that we need to go through," coach Mike McCarthy said.

Packers DE Mike Neal's four-game suspension is over.

Neal says he was suspended for taking Adderall. The Packers have a one-week roster exemption, so it's unclear if he'll immediately suit up in Week 5. The coaches want to get a look at him in practice this week.

Suspended Packers DE Mike Neal says his positive test was triggered by the prescription drug Adderall.

Adderall is commonly used to treat attention deficit disorder, but is on the league's banned substances list. Players are allowed to take it so long as they provide full "medical information" to the league. Neal did not. "I didn't do anything wrong. I just went and sought help that I thought I needed," Neal said. His four-game ban is unlikely to be overturned.

According to Pro Football Weekly, it ''wouldn't be shocking'' if the Packers released DE Mike Neal after the draft.

Neal was limited to seven games last season and is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. If the Packers target a pass-rushing defensive end early, Neal could become expendable. He's no more than a potential-ridden "prospect" at this point.

Packers DE Mike Neal claims his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances came as the result of a technicality.

According to Neal, his positive test was triggered by a prescription medication he simply forgot to alert the Packers he was taking. Players are allowed to take properly prescribed medications that contain banned substances as long as they provide full "medical information." Neal lost an appeal to have his ban overturned. Limited to seven games by a knee injury in 2011, Neal notched just three tackles and zero sacks.

Packers DE Mike Neal has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances.

Neal is a weight-room warrior who has battled several injuries in his first two NFL seasons. The Packers were already expected to target a pass-rushing defensive end early in next month's draft. The need is more pressing with Neal out of the lineup the first four games.

Packers DE Mike Neal will take a full month off to rest the knee injury that plagued him throughout his 2011 campaign.

Expected to replace Cullen Jenkins at right end, Neal instead fell behind both Jarius Wynn and C.J. Wilson, managing just three tackles in seven games. The 56th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Neal is no more than a potential-ridden "prospect" at this point. The Packers must upgrade their pass rush this spring, finding a new right outside linebacker and competition at right end.

Packers DE Mike Neal's training-camp knee injury was a sublexed kneecap with cartilage "knocked off the trochlear groove."

The trochlear groove is the concave surface where the kneecap brushes up against the femur. Neal went under the knife in Week 2 with a recovery timetable of anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 weeks to injured reserve. Neal hasn't made much of an impact in two weeks since returning, but he's still getting his legs under him.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Saturday that team doctors are pleased with the progress of DL Mike Neal.

"He's hit every target this week," McCarthy said. "He was involved with team reps Saturday for the first time. That's encouraging." Neal is still recovering from a knee injury sustained in training camp and has been ruled out for Week 10. When healthy, he figures to improve the Packers defensive line down the stretch.

Packers DE Mike Neal (knee) resumed practicing Thursday for the first time since training camp.

Still recovering from shoulder surgery early in camp, Neal ended up requiring a knee procedure to clean out "chunks of cartilage." The 2010 second-rounder could give the Packers' defensive line a boost down the stretch.

It's not guaranteed that DE Mike Neal (knee) will be able to contribute this season, a source tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Coach Mike McCarthy said he's planning to get Neal back following the Week 8 bye, but that's in doubt. Neal originally went down in camp but didn't have surgery until mid-September after his knee failed to respond to rest and rehab. Jarius Wynn has filled the void.

Packers DE Mike Neal is targeting a 4-5 week return from a mid-September knee scope that revealed "chunks of cartilage" in his knee.

"They saw that some cartilage had chipped out in my knee," Neal said. "They had to remove it. That cartilage is what was keeping my knee swollen and giving me the pain I was having." The Packers have a Week 8 bye, so Neal will aim for a Week 9 return.

Packers DE Mike Neal is out indefinitely after undergoing a surgical operation on either his shoulder or knee this week.

Coach Mike McCarthy characterized Neal's timetable for return as "considerable," which doesn't sound good. McCarthy did say Neal isn't an I.R. candidate yet. Jarius Wynn acquitted himself well at right end in the opener, racking up four tackles (three solo), and a sack. Wynn will remain the starter.

Packers DE Mike Neal (knee) is inactive for Thursday's NFL opener against the Saints.

The Packers had already named Jarius Wynn the starter at right end after Neal missed most of August with shoulder and knee injuries. Also inactive for Green Bay: CB Davon House, DB M.D. Jennings, OLB Frank Zombo, OT Derek Sherrod, TE Ryan Taylor, and LB Vic So'oto. Jermichael Finley (ankle) is active and will start, as expected.

Packers RE Mike Neal (knee) returned to practice Sunday.

Neal was sidelined for over two weeks with a knee injury after finally gaining full medical clearance for his shoulder. It looks like he has a chance to be in the starting lineup for the season opener.

Packers DE Mike Neal has been held out of practice since spraining his left knee on Tuesday.

He was not active for Green Bay's Friday evening preseason game. It's a disappointing setback for a player that only recently gained full medical clearance after undergoing shoulder surgery last November. If Neal's injury lingers, the Packers may be forced to hit the market for help at defensive end after backup C.J. Wilson suffered a concussion on Friday.

Packers DE Mike Neal (shoulder) gained full medical clearance late last week.

Neal didn't expect to be 100 percent until October, but he's already working regularly with the starters in base and nickel personnel. Neal has also discarded his shoulder harness after one week. "I'm fine," Neal said. "I didn't expect them to throw me out there in full contact right now, but I'm doing it and I don't have any pain. So I feel fine."

Packers second-year DE Mike Neal (shoulder) doesn't expect to be 100 percent until October.

Neal was given a one-year timetable to regain full health after his October 26 surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. "The good thing is that by training camp, I should be ready to play with a little slight pain," he said. If Neal isn't full speed, the Packers may not be able to count on him as Cullen Jenkins' immediate replacement. That job may go to C.J. Wilson now.

The Press-Gazette considers Mike Neal the favorite to replace free agent Cullen Jenkins at defensive end.

The Packers are expected to let Jenkins walk and will probably release Johnny Jolly as well. They can afford to do that because Neal, their second-round pick in 2010, is ready to go. The rotator cuff injury that crippled his rookie year is nearing 100 percent.