The Green Bay Packers will be without three defensive starters on Sunday. Linebacker Clay Matthews and safety Morgan Burnett have joined cornerback Sam Shields in being ruled out.
Matthews has ankle and, wait for it… hamstring issues. It will be the first game he’s been sidelined since 2013, but prior to that seemingly always had some kind of hamstring injury. Burnett, who could be permanently sidelined as far as we’re concerned, has a groin issue.
More than likely, defensive tackle Letroy Guion and linebacker Datone Jones will be joining these three. Both were listed as doubtful on the Saturday injury report.
Micah Hyde, who is the superior player anyway, should take the majority of Burnett’s snaps. The Packers will have to count on Julius Peppers, Kyler Fackrell and Jayrone Elliott at outside linebacker opposite Nick Perry.
First-round pick Kenny Clark is the logical choice to replace Guion at nose tackle.
With the bye week following in week 4, the Packers will have plenty of time to get healthy.