Good news for the Green Bay Packers. As expected, linebacker Clay Matthews will return to action this week after missing four weeks with a broken thumb. Perhaps surprisingly, right guard T.J. Lang will also play after suffering a concussion on Monday.
Lang practiced on Friday and his availability means the Packers won’t have to subject us to Marshall Newhouse this week. He’s officially listed as questionable.
“He wouldn’t be on the field today if he didn’t clear his hurdles,” coach Mike McCarthy said.
“He felt all along that he would be ready to play.”
As for Matthews, he’ll be back, but he’s playing with a club on his right hand and the Packers plan to watch his reps.
“You have to watch all these players who haven’t played when they’re coming back,” McCarthy said. “And you have another component to this, too. You have an offense that doesn’t huddle.”
The only other injury news worth noting is that Nick Perry is questionable and Andy Mulumba is doubtful. Perry has missed there games with a broken foot.
He practiced on Friday and if he doesn’t have pain tomorrow, he should go. If not, the Packers will be fairly thin at outside linebacker, since it looks like Mulumba isn’t playing.
Perry’s absence would leave them with Matthews, Mike Neal — who’s also dinged up — and rookie Nate Palmer.