GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The flak jacket Ty Montgomery would have to wear if he's cleared to play Sunday at Minnesota is bulky and sits just below where the Green Bay Packers running back would need to tuck the ball when he runs.

Coach Mike McCarthy isn't concerned that it could present a ball-security problem for Montgomery, who hasn't shown a proclivity for fumbling since he became a full-time running back early last season.

Montgomery practiced this week with a large pad around his lower ribs that was fashioned by long-time team equipment manager Gordon "Red" Batty and his staff.

"Red Batty and our equipment staff, I think they have about 130 years of NFL experience -- some crazy statistic like that," McCarthy said Friday. "Those guys are in good hands, no different than our medical staff. Whatever our players need to be comfortable and be protected or whatever their need is, it's always done with a level of expertise and experience that doesn't really put us in that type of situation."

Montgomery has fumbled only once on a rushing play since the start of the 2016 season. He also has a fumble on a receiving play. Both came in October 2016 against Dallas, and he lost one of them. A total of 33 running backs have fumbled more than Montgomery on rushing plays since the beginning of last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Packers' medical staff did not clear Montgomery to play last week against the Cowboys, opening the door for rookie Aaron Jones to make his first NFL start. Jones rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Even if Montgomery is cleared, the Packers would probably limit his snaps to get Jones on the field.

But at this point, the Packers believe Montgomery can be effective while playing with the flak jacket -- something Montgomery said he wore in high school.

"I think based on what we've seen in practice, I think he can," running backs coach Ben Sirmans. "He hasn't obviously taken a hit, but the way they have equipment set up now they can absorb any type of impact. Based on what he's done the last two days, I'd say he's moving around at least enough that it seems like he can play. But once again that's without taking any hits to make that call."

Though Montgomery hasn't been tackled to the ground, he said he did take some contact to his ribs during the only full-pads practice of the week Thursday.

"It made me feel very comfortable," Montgomery said.

Sirmans said the flak jacket should provide Montgomery with adequate protection.

"The trainers say you can put them [on] and take a hammer, not full speed, but you can take a hammer and bang away at it, and I guess it just absorbs the impact of it," Sirmans said. "It should be a really good device to keep you secure if helmets are coming at you. I know it's way better than what we used back when I played."