Nick Perry May Return, But Probably Won’t Help

We’re not expecting much from him, but the Green Bay Packers may have outside linebacker Nick Perry back on the field this week.

Perry has missed two games with a broken hand and appears ready to return with a club this week.

“Nick did some things yesterday with our training staff as far as getting comfortable with the cast, so we’re going to try to do some things today,”  coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s a process. He’s working through it.”

The Packers’ pass rush was nonexistent against the Bears last Sunday. They registered just one sack — by Julius Peppers to open the third quarter.

Clay Matthews, who is playing with an injured shoulder, has been a non-factor. He put up a donut on the stat sheet against the Bears.

In theory, Perry’s return should help the Packers’ pass rush. He leads the team with eight sacks, a half sack more than Peppers currently has.

However, guys rarely play well — especially pass rushers — when they’re operating with the club. We’ve seen it with Clay Matthews and we’ve also seen it with Perry before, in 2012.

The Packers will have only three truly healthy outside linebackers on Saturday — Peppers, Datone Jones and rookie Kyler Fackrell. Jayrone Elliott appears as if he’ll also be playing with a club after injuring his hand on Sunday.

Pressuring the quarterback is key for the Packers’ defense, but the only thing they have going for them in that department at the moment is they’re playing the Minnesota Vikings, who have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.