The second-round draft choice set and matched his own high expectations early, but lately, problems with his right ankle have hampered him from running routes, and too often brought up the unwelcome term ``nagging injury.''

``I always set high expectations of myself, I think everybody in here can say the same, but when you start off at the rate that I started off, you know the expectations are definitely a jump (up),'' he said.

Jennings made the Packers' trade of Pro Bowl wide receiver Javon Walker for a second-round pick just before the draft look wise with the way he started out this season.

The fourth receiver taken in the draft, Jennings quickly assumed Walker's place, climbing the depth chart and starting the first six games. He made 20 catches, posted a pair of 100-yard games and hauled in three TD passes.

His disappearance has been even more stark.

In Miami, he made only one catch for 14 yards and was hurt on the play. X-rays were negative and he missed the rest of that game, as well as the next one. When he returned against Buffalo, he aggravated the injury, and it's continued to bother him since.

``I would be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated,'' Jennings said. ``It's definitely frustrating.''

He still ranks second on the team with 38 catches and 575 yards receiving, but he has no TD catches and no 100-yard games since the injury.

``I've been limited a little bit. My routes haven't been as precise,'' Jennings said. ``I don't know. (I'm) just trying to go out there and give my best effort, put my best foot forward and hopefully I can make plays. At times, that's pretty much it.''

Jennings said it's hard to watch game tapes. He doesn't recognize the person running the routes because of the ankle.

``I don't want to say it limits me, but you know when I watch myself on film, I'm just not myself,'' he said. ``I'm good enough, but in my eyes I'm not good enough.''

The coaching staff has been patient, but it's not like the Packers have any other options after Robert Ferguson's season-ending foot injury and Koren Robinson's yearlong suspension.

Instead, the staff stays optimistic heading into the final four games.

``I think he's kind of getting over all the nagging stuff that he had,'' offensive co-ordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. ``He gets hampered in performing in the way he wants to and the way that we've seen him perform. Hopefully he can keep being productive for us. Hopefully this week will be the start of something good for him.''

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said each player is different, but that Jennings is ``very conscientious'' about staying healthy.

``I don't think we pushed him back too fast, but he did come back quickly based on the type of injury he did have,'' McCarthy said. ``The one game that it stood out to me was the Buffalo game. He had a couple opportunities to step out of things and you could see his strength wasn't quite 100 per cent, particularly his lateral speed and things like that.''

Fellow starting receiver Donald Driver understands Jennings' plight, but said he really can't do much in the way of helping the former Western Michigan standout.

``He's a tough kid that can play through anything,'' Driver said. ``You basically just keep him encouraged that he can go out there and play and that you don't have to worry about your ankle, it'll be OK.''

Jennings said the ankle isn't going to feel much better this year. He broke his left ankle in 2002 and missed four games as a freshman, but said this is a completely different situation.

``I was actually out for five weeks,'' Jennings said. ``I got back up and I was fine. This, I came back early. I wasn't 100 per cent. It was obvious. But I felt like I could go and could do some things to help the team out.

``That was the decision I made and we made and I'm rolling with it.''