GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aaron Rodgers' message to Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy this week was direct.

"Game plan-wise, his comments were just, 'Don't hold anything back,'" McCarthy told reporters Wednesday. “So we're approaching this game no different than we did last week."

Rodgers’ physical preparation for Sunday’s game at Chicago, however, won’t be the same.

McCarthy said Rodgers won’t practice much -- if at all -- during the early portion of the week and instead will focus on the recovery from the right calf strain that he suffered on the third play from scrimmage in last Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks.

“He'll be with the rehab group, so he won't practice today and I'll probably do the same thing tomorrow,” McCarthy said before Wednesday’s practice. “We have a plan.”

That’s a change from the last two weeks, when Rodgers practiced -- albeit on a limited basis -- after he injured his left hamstring on Nov. 28 against the Eagles.

McCarthy said that he doesn’t think Rodgers’ play will be impacted significantly as long as he’s able to reset his feet when he throws.

It may not help Rodgers that Sunday’s game at Soldier Field could be one of the coldest in NFL history. Early forecasts say the high temperature may not reach zero degrees on Sunday in Chicago.

Still, the Packers appear to be in relatively decent shape heading into Week 15. Linebacker Clay Matthews got through Sunday’s game without any setbacks to his separated left shoulder.

“He’s going to be better this week than he was last week,” McCarthy said.

Tight end Jared Cook is expected to be cleared to return from the lung contusion he suffered against the Seahawks.

“I think we’re going to have him, but really practice will dictate that,” McCarthy said. “The medical staff wants to see him go and see how he comes through.”

However, linebacker Nick Perry may not be ready to return from his left hand injury. Perry underwent surgery a little more than a week ago. He had a cast on his hand while he watched Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field.