GREEN BAY, Wis. -- You better believe Davante Adams has been paying attention to what his quarterback has said after the Green Bay Packers' last two games.

Following the Week 5 win over the St. Louis Rams, Aaron Rodgers said: "We've got to run routes a little bit better, and we have to be able to get open outside better."

A week later after beating the San Diego Chargers, Rodgers said: "We had some chances outside the numbers and didn't convert them."

It's no wonder Rodgers thinks Adams can help open up the passing game. That could happen Sunday, when the second-year receiver returns after missing nearly four full games because of a sprained left ankle. Coach Mike McCarthy said Monday he expects Adams to play in Sunday's matchup of unbeaten, 6-0 teams at Denver.

It may not be an oversimplification to say Adams' return could change what has been a rather pedestrian Packers offense through the first six games.

"I hope so," Adams said Monday. "I hope that's accurate. What do you think?"

It seems to be consensus among those around the Packers.

Even Rodgers said after the Chargers game that "it'll be great to get Davante back because he adds another dimension outside with his quick-twitch ability."

Without Adams before the bye, the Packers were playing with a pair of banged-up starting receivers -- Randall Cobb (shoulder) and James Jones (hamstring) -- and then lost rookie Ty Montgomery to ankle injury against the Chargers, which forced Jeff Janis into his first extended action.

Montgomery and running back James Starks were the only players who did not practice on Monday. No reason was given for Starks' non-participation.

Adams hasn't been healthy for an entire game since the regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears, when he had four catches for 59 yards. He caught five passes for 33 yards in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, but that's when he first sprained his ankle. He tried to play against the Kansas City Chiefs the following week but lasted just three plays.

Without Adams, who was expected to replace Jordy Nelson as the Packers' top threat outside the numbers, opposing defenses can feel more comfortable committing extra coverage to Cobb in the slot. So it was no surprise to see Cobb smiling at his locker on Monday when he heard Adams tell reporters how much better his ankle feels after spending all of last week's bye in Green Bay for medical treatment.

"He brings more experience, somebody that Aaron has trust in, another playmaker," Cobb said. "It's definitely going to be huge to get him back when he comes back."

Adams, who practiced on a limited basis before the bye but did not play against the Chargers after being listed as questionable, said he wants to get his ankle to the point where he's not thinking about it. Despite practicing Monday, he's apparently not quite there yet.

"It's still a day-to-day thing, but it definitely feels a lot better than it did weeks prior or days prior even," Adams said. "It's kind of a day-to-day thing where it's getting better."