GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If the Green Bay Packers need a last-minute defensive stop Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews will be on the field to try to come up with it.
Matthews, who was inactive in Week 8 because of a recurring hamstring injury, could only watch Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan throw the game-winning touchdown pass with 31 seconds to play.
This week will be different.
"I'll be out there," Matthews said Thursday after he practiced on a limited basis.
It's at least one bit of good news for the Packers' beat-up defense, which has all kinds of injury issues at cornerback. Sam Shields (injured reserve) and Damarious Randall (groin surgery) won't play. Demetri Goodson is in the concussion protocol, and Quinten Rollins (groin) is trying to come back after missing the previous three games.
"I feel good," Matthews said. "Obviously in a better spot than where I was last week. Obviously disappointed when you can't go out there. I think we didn't want a setback moving forward. It might have been pushing it a little bit. Obviously feel much better this week, able to get more team reps, and feel good about what we've done thus far in the week. So, all indications are pointing to me being out there on Sunday. So that's that."
The Packers sacked Ryan only twice last week and couldn't get any pressure on him when they needed a stop on the final drive.
"It's good to have Clay working back in the right direction," Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "It's nice to have him back out on the field doing some work. As soon as Clay's healthy and ready to go, obviously we'll be able to use him."
Matthews has three sacks in five games this season; he also missed the Week 3 game against the Detroit Lions because of the same hamstring injury. After the Week 4 bye, Matthews played in three straight games but dropped out late in the Oct. 20 Thursday night game against the Chicago Bears.
"I think three games in 11 days is probably difficult when you're coming off an injury, so I think that's ultimately the setback," Matthews said. "We're trying to be smart, especially, really without any breaks moving forward for the next umpteen weeks."