Clay Matthews Loses Club Cast at Packers Practice
Also at Packers practice, center Evan Dietrich-Smith returned to action after leaving the Eagles game with a knee injury.
#Packers practice: Lots of news. Matthews not wearing a club. Richardson, Worthy practicing for first time. EDS practicing. Barclay not.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) November 13, 2013
Hayward, Jolly, Rodgers, Perry and Barclay not practicing for #Packers Mulumba is back.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) November 13, 2013
In his first game since undergoing surgery on his broken thumb, Clay Matthews was largely ineffective while wearing a club cast in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday.
The Packers must feel Matthews' thumb is sufficiently healed to forego wearing a cast, especially in a practice environment. And perhaps that will lead to increased production as the team prepares to face the New York Giants this upcoming weekend.
Silverstein later reported that Matthews was wearing a brace on his right hand, however.
Good news at practice on Wednesday came in the form of Evan Dietrich-Smith returning to practice just three days after exiting the Eagles game with a knee injury.
The situation on the Packers offensive line is not nearly as bad as it could be with the return of Dietrich-Smith allowing T.J. Lang to return to his usual position at right guard.
Don Barclay remains out, although the Packers have Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod in reserve at right tackle.
Also notable was seeing defensive linemen Jerel Worthy and safety Sean Richardson practice for the first time this season since being placed on the PUP list, although offensive lineman J.C. Tretter remains out.
Decisions on the future of Worthy and Richardson are forthcoming, but the team will at least get to see them in action before coming to any conclusions.
Outside linebacker Andy Mulumba returned to practice after being held out of the Eagles game with an ankle injury.
The bad news for the Packers is that quarterback Aaron Rodgers (collarbone), defensive lineman Johnny Jolly (groin), linebacker Nick Perry (ankle) and cornerback Casey Hayward all remain out.
Comments (30)
November 13, 2013 at 12:49 pm
No Marshall Newhouse!!!!
November 13, 2013 at 03:44 pm
Put Jerel Worthy at right tackle. (yes I know he is a d-liner but what the hey)
November 13, 2013 at 04:58 pm
yeah what's up with Sherrod? He must be coming along slow if he can't get ahead of *shudder* Newhouse.
November 13, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Finally some good news. Especially on the EDS front. Our offensive line was a different unit after he went out. Not that Lang played badly and maybe it was more of a change in the Eagles defensive scheme. Either way, leaning on a center with as little reps as TJ is a dangerous proposition.
Its not "do or die" this weekend. But it is close.
Glad to see good news coming down the pike. For once.
November 13, 2013 at 02:13 pm
Especially with basically a rookie Qb under center.
November 13, 2013 at 12:56 pm
CM3 without a club is nice to hear, but I'm thrilled to see EDS out there. The run game disappeared when Lang shifted to C.
November 13, 2013 at 01:00 pm
A lot of Big news IMO.
Biggest news for me is that EDS is practicing. If he didn't practice their OL would be a shell of itself. If he can play they might only have to have 1 non starter playing.
Mathews without a club I like.
I am glad to see that Worthy and Richardson are practicing. I really would love to get Richardson back to help the safety position.
The DL is deep right now, but maybe Worthy could provide a spark if he comes back.
November 13, 2013 at 01:37 pm
not to tamper the optimism, but what exactly has Richardson done to warrant the optimism he could help out?
PackerAaron
November 13, 2013 at 01:40 pm
He played well when given the chance in the preseason last year.
November 13, 2013 at 01:48 pm
At this point, I'll take it.
November 13, 2013 at 05:25 pm
I believe he is also bigger and faster than the other safeties
November 13, 2013 at 01:53 pm
At this point, I will be happy that he creates competition for the other safety's. Do I expect him to come in and be the starter. No.. But he brings competition to the position which hopefully will help.
November 13, 2013 at 01:53 pm
It is not so much what Richardson can do, the current incumbents at the safety position leave a lot to be desired
November 13, 2013 at 01:04 pm
Worthy practicing is interesting. I don't see how they can fit him on the 53, with Boyd already a healthy scratch most weeks.
November 13, 2013 at 01:39 pm
Jolly seemed to have pulled a groin in the Eagles game. He may be out, as groins for bigger guys will need longer to heal. Plus Pickett didn't seem to move at a normal pace either
November 13, 2013 at 04:56 pm
yuck, you made me think about Jolly's groin being bigger than most.
November 13, 2013 at 07:18 pm
Pickett is dealing with a knee injury
November 13, 2013 at 01:11 pm
Maybe just a chance to get Worthy some practice time. I wish Richardson was able to go. He might help at safety but I haven't seen enough of him to know. I'm starting to wonder if Perry is just injury prone.
November 13, 2013 at 01:21 pm
Unless he has brittle bone disease, I don't count broken bones as "injury prone."
November 13, 2013 at 01:30 pm
Prior to this season I never thought I'd be saying this, but getting EDS back is the the most important news regarding injured players. I wouldn't want to go into this next game with Lang at center, probably Taylor at guard and Newhouse at RT. Even without Barclay, they are close to this years version of normal, which has been pretty good this year. Hope whatever EDS has, they can keep it stable so he doesn't make it worse.
Somewhat of a surprise Barlay's out and EDS is in. Thought it would be the other way around.
Think they're risking a lot by taking the club off of Clay and replacing with a brace. Maybe it's time to circle the wagons, but I think the chance for reinjury is very high considering how much he uses his hands. Guess they know what they're doing.
Is this going to be a completely lost season for Hayward? Too bad, because when he's right he's a very good player, one of the best on our D.
Wonder if Perry made his foot injury worse by playing last week(i.e., by playing too soon). This is much the same concern I have with CM3 and EDS. But, at this point in the season maybe you have to lay it out there.
November 13, 2013 at 01:40 pm
yep. if this was baseball or basketball with many games you'd have the luxury of holding guys out longer. but with football, if the Packers lose the next 2 it is practically over.
November 13, 2013 at 01:56 pm
The next 2 games and remaining division games is our season, no club is a gamble, but our backs are against the wall
November 13, 2013 at 03:01 pm
Its funny (and sad) that we view a saturated injury report loaded with key starters, one of them happens to practice (EDS) and we are jovial about the situation. What a sad state of affairs on the luck front. I can't remember a lucky bounce or break in the last 2 months.... Neal's int on the tip ball is it. And that lost yards being 4th down anyway! Probability says we get a break soon in the injury and turnover front, If not Ill just jump off a bridge and end this madness!
November 13, 2013 at 03:47 pm
CM3 can be a one man wrecking crew if Dom moves him around. The defense needs a huge spark. I can't see anyone else stepping up at this point except CM3.
November 13, 2013 at 06:09 pm
EDS is back, and CM has a thumb again! There is an injury god! Richardson is probably not the answer but at least we will have options. The Giants are going down!
November 13, 2013 at 06:39 pm
Jolly, Rodgers....shiver me timbers....thank you for giving me a chuckle Mr. Silverstein.....as inadvertant as it was. I apologize to all readers for my lame sense of humor. Carry on
November 13, 2013 at 09:06 pm
Nah!
I liked that one too, matey.
November 13, 2013 at 07:32 pm
EDS is the only important news and it's good news he's back.
Richardson to me is practicing as a do or die message to the current safeties. Either step up or get cut because Richardson is going to take someone's spot shortly if you don't. That's a good gamble to get him practicing now. The Packers must win this Giants game. At all fucking costs including Matthews taking off that bowling ball on his hand.
Longshanks
November 13, 2013 at 07:49 pm
I haven't had to say ,"wait til next year" for a long ass time. I sure hope it isn't this year. Just get in the playoffs baby and anything is possible. C'mon Perry get your broke ass foot healed.
November 13, 2013 at 09:07 pm
Wait...is it the ass or the foot that's broken?