For the second time this week, the Green Bay Packers have retained the long-term rights to one of their young standout veterans.

The Packers on Wednesday reached an agreement in principle with right offensive tackle Mark Tauscher on a six-year contract extension.

The new deal, expected to be signed later this week, will tie the three-year veteran to the Packers through the 2008 season. On Monday, Green Bay signed fourth-year wide receiver Donald Driver to a five-year extension believed to be worth about $14 million.

Tauscher's extension is believed worth about $17 million and includes a signing bonus of $1.5 million, with an additional $2.5 million in a roster bonus and other incentives in 2003. The contract was structured in such a way that it affects only minimally the Packers' salary cap this year and also provides the team some protection should Tauscher not fully recover from a knee injury. He is on the injured reserve list.

A seventh-round choice in the 2000 draft, Tauscher tore the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament, and also damaged cartilage, in his left knee in a Sept. 15 game. He was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list, by definition ending his season.

The former University of Wisconsin star, who became a starter as a rookie when incumbent Earl Dotson was injured, has quickly developed into one of the NFL's best strongside tackles. Green Bay vice president Andy Brandt had been working on an extension for Tauscher before the injury and he continued to negotiate with agent Michael Bauer afterward as well.

It's likely that Tauscher, 25, would have received a larger signing bonus had he not been injured, but he should be able to make up the difference in bonuses if he is healthy next year. Tauscher would have been a restricted free agent next spring without the extension.

Green Bay officials, impressed with Tauscher's work ethic during his rehabilitation, are confident he will return whole in 2003.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.