GREEN BAY – The way tight end Andrew Quarless and outside linebacker Frank Zombo figure it, having waited as long as they have to play, they can wait another week. Then again, given how long they’ve waited to play, waiting another week seems like torture.

Nevertheless, both players say they’re OK with whenever the Green Bay Packers decide to activate them from the physically unable to perform list.

“I feel good. I feel good. I feel pretty much ready – as ready as I’m going to be. It’s really their call. But I feel pretty good,” said Quarless, who is coming back from a knee injury suffered on Dec. 4 against the New York Giants. “It’s one of those things where, I want to get out there as soon as possible but at the same time, it’s their call. I’ve spoken with (general managed) Ted (Thompson) more than one time, and he gave me a feel for things. Like I said from the beginning, I have respect for him because he protects his players – which I think has gone on in my situation, which is not a bad thing, if I have to wait another week. But I want to get out there as soon as possible. One of the hardest things to do is watch, so I’m ready.”

Zombo, who suffered a torn hamstring before the start or organized team activity practices, wasn’t getting his hopes up, either.

“It sure would be pretty special to run out on Lambeau again and head into the bye week with a game under my belt, but I’ve waited this long, what’s another week?” Zombo said of Sunday’s game against Arizona. “But whatever they want. I’m here to help the team.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Zombo and Quarless officially began their practice period on Oct. 17, which means that three-week window ends on Nov. 6, which is next Wednesday. The Packers must activate, release or place them on season-ending injured reserve by Thursday, Nov. 7.

“We’re working them both. That’s what we’ll be talking about Friday,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Ted and I talked about those guys on Monday. We’re going to start working them into some of the game-plan stuff and see where they are.”

Zombo said he took regular team reps – instead of just scout-team work – on Wednesday and hoped that was a good sign.

“I thought I moved around pretty well the last two weeks, I think they’re gradually getting me back in the swing of things, getting me some team reps and things like that, and just starting to come back into my own,” Zombo said. “Obviously there’s a lot of injuries. I don’t know if I’m their answer right now. All I can control is what I do on the field in practice and I think I’ve done that to the best of my ability. I guess it’s up to them.”

While he didn’t explicitly say so, McCarthy made it sound – by not talking about tackle Derek Sherrod – that Sherrod is unlikely to return this season. Sherrod broke his leg on Dec. 18 at Kansas City.