GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Two weeks ago, Clay Matthews stood in front of his locker and proclaimed on a Thursday afternoon, “I’ll be out there,” for that week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
And then the next day, something happened to his ailing hamstring. He hasn’t played since.
This Thursday, he once again said he’s ready to return. But this time added a caveat.
“I feel good,” Matthews said. “You know, unfortunately a few weeks ago, I felt good going into that Colts game. As Mike [McCarthy] alluded to, I had a setback on Friday, which is tough to swallow, but I feel good. I feel like I’m headed where I was headed into that week. So barring any setback, I plan to be out there this weekend.”
Matthews has missed the last three games -- and four in all this season -- because of the hamstring injury. He believes that streak will end with Sunday’s game at Washington.
“It’s unfortunate. You don’t ever want to miss any games in this league,” Matthews said. “But like I said, I feel good, I feel healthy, and I plan on being out there, barring any setbacks.”
Matthews has battled hamstring injuries throughout his career but none in the year and a half that he played inside linebacker. Matthews admitted this season that playing outside linebacker is more taxing.
The Packers may have a need back at inside linebacker this week because of the ankle injury Jake Ryan sustained early in Sunday’s loss at Tennessee, but Matthews doesn’t think he’ll be returning to that spot even if the Packers are down to only Blake Martinez and Joe Thomas on the inside, like they were against the Titans.
“That’s hasn’t even been discussed or approached,” Matthews said. “It looks like Joe will be filling the void, but no, I think they have me outside.”
Unless, of course, something happens to Martinez or Thomas. Last week, safety Morgan Burnett was the emergency backup inside linebacker, defensive coordinator Dom Capers said.
“We haven’t talked to Clay about playing inside, but if Clay was up in our game last week, Clay would be the best alternative to go in there,” Capers said.
The Packers’ other major area of concern with injuries is on the offensive line, where left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and right guard T.J. Lang (ankle) couldn’t finish Sunday’s loss to the Titans. Bakhtiari has practiced on a limited basis this week with a large brace on his right knee, but Lang has not been on the field.