For the first time in five years, the Packers are not the NFL's youngest team. The Packers rank sixth-youngest this year behind league leader Carolina Panthers reports Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Their average age as of Sunday will be 25.91 years, up just slightly from 25.70 in 2009, 25.57 in '08, 25.74 in '07 and 25.57 in '06," writes McGinn. It's a sign of maturing team, one ready to take the next step in the league's hierarchy. However, the Packers are far from getting old having kept a surprisingly large number of undrafted rookies this year, three.

The Super Bowl talk is over. Not that the Packers' goal isn't still the Super Bowl, but don't expect the players to be talking about it anymore like they were during August. “Super Bowl talk, frankly, that is preseason talk. That is over in our mind,” head coach Mike McCarthy is quoted as saying by Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin. “The only thing we are interested in is Philadelphia. It’s nice when people recognize your players for potential, but we really don’t care about potential. We’re at the starting line of our season." It would be alarming if players were still wearing cowboy hats and making Dallas, Texas proclamations in mid-season.

The Packers are fairly healthy heading into the regular season. "The Packers listed three starters and seven players total on their injury report, but only one, reserve cornerback Brandon Underwood, is at risk of not playing in the opener," reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's one of the cleanest starts to the regular season the Packers will have had in a number of years." It pales in comparison to the zero players listed on the Eagles injury report, but we'll still take this is a good sign.

Brady Poppinga sat out of practice on Wednesday after some swelling in his knee, but it's apparently not a problem. "Poppinga said his knee problem went back to being spiked by fullback John Kuhn while in coverage during a practice late in training camp. He is expected to practice Thursday," writes Wilde. Poppinga said the swelling is entirely a skin issue meaning it's not in his joint.

Rookie Sam Shields figures to be a target against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. “(Shields) understands how the league works,” Greg Jennings is quoted as saying by Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “He knows he has (cornerback) Tramon Williams on the other side, and nobody wants to pick on (Charles Woodson). So he’s the guy that’s left. Wilde penned a similar article on the youth of Burnett and Shields.

The Eagles will start two rookies on defense notes Bill Huber of Packer Report. "Much has been made of the Packers starting rookies Shields and third-round safety Morgan Burnett in the secondary," writes Huber. "The Eagles also are starting two rookies on defense: defensive end Brandon Graham (first round) and safety Nate Allen (second round)." Those players could, in turn, be targeted by the Packers.

The Packers aren't expected to find themselves in a compromising position at long snapper on Sunday. "Long snapper Brett Goode was cleared on Monday by both the Packers’ team doctors and an outside doctor — as per the league’s new policy on concussions — after sustaining a blow to the head in last Thursday’s preseason finale at Kansas City," reports Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Josh Sitton is the emergency long snapper, just in case.

The last time the Packers opened the season on the road, they didn't fare so well recalls Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. "The Packers went into Detroit's Ford Field and lost a game (17-3) and star wide receiver Javon Walker to a season-ending knee injury all in the same nightmarish three hours," writes Silverstein. "It was the last time the Packers lost to the Lions and the start of a 4-12 season."

PackerInsider over at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription required) ranks every player on the Packer defense and A.J. Hawk comes in all the way at no. 14 overall. "Lost his job in the nickel to Chillar last year and finished with career lows in snaps and tackles (87)," according to the article.  "Solid early down player who is stout in the run game. But considering the Packers spend at least half the game in nickel, he's simply a part-time player now. With a base salary of $10 million in 2011, this could very well be Hawk's last year in Green Bay." My, how the mighty have fallen.

The return specialist position is lamented by Chris Lempesis at Ol' Bag of Donuts.

A Q&A with wide receiver Shawn Gore coming off his training camp with the Packers appears at the Vancouver Sun.

"Jersey" Al Bracco interviews Saint Vince.

Meat Packers Union previews the Eagles game.

Endorsed video: NFL Fanhouse takes a look at what's in store for the Packers in 2010...