Clay Matthews return, There's nothing that's going to stop Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews from playing his all-out style Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
Except maybe a twinge in his left hamstring.
Matthews, who returned to practice Wednesday after a four-game absence due to a pulled hamstring, said he hoped his maturity would prevail should he experience any tightness or fatigue while playing on the mushy Soldier Field turf.
Having gone through this four times during his four-year career, he definitely has a keen sense of the delicacy of the hamstring muscle. Only once in the three times Matthews pulled the muscle previously did he end up pulling it again that same season, and that time he only missed one game.
"We'll do a good job of keeping it warm, staying warm, and monitoring the situation," Matthews said. "But ultimately I have to be my biggest coach, and if I start to get fatigued and tired, instead of maybe pushing it, maybe take myself out for a play here or there.
"But when I'm in the game it's going to be full speed."
Matthews took part in a limited portion of practice, which would be expected for someone who hasn't practiced in five weeks. He'll do more on Thursday and more on Friday and then get ready to cut it loose against the Bears.
Matthews will not practice in shoulder pads before Sunday because coach Mike McCarthy had designated this a pads-free week a long time ago. He is limited in the number of practices in pads he can hold over the last six weeks of the season and wanted to save his last one for a later week.
But pads or no pads, Matthews will have some rust to knock off.
On the other hand, he's had five weeks to let the rest of his body heal, which may not be a bad thing for a guy who plays in overdrive every single play. He's had more energy to work in the weight room and more time to recover from every workout.
"You'd like to think that," Matthews said. "Obviously taking a little break in the middle of the season definitely will give you some fresh legs, but ultimately I don't think anybody wants to take a break unless it's a bye week. But I feel good. I always feel good. We'll be good."
Matthews looked pretty good 14 weeks ago when the Packers last played the Bears. He destroyed Bears left tackle J'Marcus Webb for 3 ½ sacks in the Packers' 23-10 victory at Lambeau Field. He chipped in six unassisted tackles to boot.
However, Matthews hasn't really put up gaudy numbers against the Bears throughout his career considering the unimpressive list of tackles he has been matched with in eight meetings.
Because Matthews has moved from the right side to the left and back to right during his four seasons, he has faced both left tackles and right tackles. The list consists of Webb, Lance Louis, Frank Omiyale, Kevin Shaffer, Chris Williams and Orlando Pace.
Each of them has had help with Matthews to some degree - some a lot more than others - so it's not shocking that his numbers haven't been better.
In the seven games prior to his breakout in September - when offensive coordinator Mike Tice tried to block him one-on-one with Webb - Matthews had 2 ½ sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and an interception.
His value to the Packers defense can't be entirely quantified with just statistics, and he's plenty valuable when he's drawing two blockers or setting the edge on running plays.
It's just unrealistic to think he's going to go into Soldier Field and have 3 ½ sacks again.
"When you have a good day rushing the passer - it might not equal sacks directly, but if you feel good as a pass rusher you get into a routine, a rhythm and a groove," Matthews said. "I definitely felt that was the case the first time we played them.
"I want to break out a little bit of the rust obviously sitting out a few games, but there shouldn't be a drop-off, hopefully there isn't."
During a conference call, Bears coach Lovie Smith feigned surprise when he heard that Matthews was back on the field, acting as though he had just learned a secret that would help the Bears prepare for Sunday. But it's been reported for a week that Matthews probably would be back for this game, so Smith and his staff are doing plenty to prepare themselves.
"He's one of the best players in the league," Smith said. "That'll definitely give them a boost. They're a better football team with him on the football field."
No one has a motor like Matthews does. Seeing No.52 on the practice field again reminded some members of the defense what they had been missing the past four games.
"Whew, that was great," end Ryan Pickett said. "He's back, he's healthy, that's great. He looked good to me."
Except maybe a twinge in his left hamstring.
Matthews, who returned to practice Wednesday after a four-game absence due to a pulled hamstring, said he hoped his maturity would prevail should he experience any tightness or fatigue while playing on the mushy Soldier Field turf.
Having gone through this four times during his four-year career, he definitely has a keen sense of the delicacy of the hamstring muscle. Only once in the three times Matthews pulled the muscle previously did he end up pulling it again that same season, and that time he only missed one game.
"We'll do a good job of keeping it warm, staying warm, and monitoring the situation," Matthews said. "But ultimately I have to be my biggest coach, and if I start to get fatigued and tired, instead of maybe pushing it, maybe take myself out for a play here or there.
"But when I'm in the game it's going to be full speed."
Matthews took part in a limited portion of practice, which would be expected for someone who hasn't practiced in five weeks. He'll do more on Thursday and more on Friday and then get ready to cut it loose against the Bears.
Matthews will not practice in shoulder pads before Sunday because coach Mike McCarthy had designated this a pads-free week a long time ago. He is limited in the number of practices in pads he can hold over the last six weeks of the season and wanted to save his last one for a later week.
But pads or no pads, Matthews will have some rust to knock off.
On the other hand, he's had five weeks to let the rest of his body heal, which may not be a bad thing for a guy who plays in overdrive every single play. He's had more energy to work in the weight room and more time to recover from every workout.
"You'd like to think that," Matthews said. "Obviously taking a little break in the middle of the season definitely will give you some fresh legs, but ultimately I don't think anybody wants to take a break unless it's a bye week. But I feel good. I always feel good. We'll be good."
Matthews looked pretty good 14 weeks ago when the Packers last played the Bears. He destroyed Bears left tackle J'Marcus Webb for 3 ½ sacks in the Packers' 23-10 victory at Lambeau Field. He chipped in six unassisted tackles to boot.
However, Matthews hasn't really put up gaudy numbers against the Bears throughout his career considering the unimpressive list of tackles he has been matched with in eight meetings.
Because Matthews has moved from the right side to the left and back to right during his four seasons, he has faced both left tackles and right tackles. The list consists of Webb, Lance Louis, Frank Omiyale, Kevin Shaffer, Chris Williams and Orlando Pace.
Each of them has had help with Matthews to some degree - some a lot more than others - so it's not shocking that his numbers haven't been better.
In the seven games prior to his breakout in September - when offensive coordinator Mike Tice tried to block him one-on-one with Webb - Matthews had 2 ½ sacks, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and an interception.
His value to the Packers defense can't be entirely quantified with just statistics, and he's plenty valuable when he's drawing two blockers or setting the edge on running plays.
It's just unrealistic to think he's going to go into Soldier Field and have 3 ½ sacks again.
"When you have a good day rushing the passer - it might not equal sacks directly, but if you feel good as a pass rusher you get into a routine, a rhythm and a groove," Matthews said. "I definitely felt that was the case the first time we played them.
"I want to break out a little bit of the rust obviously sitting out a few games, but there shouldn't be a drop-off, hopefully there isn't."
During a conference call, Bears coach Lovie Smith feigned surprise when he heard that Matthews was back on the field, acting as though he had just learned a secret that would help the Bears prepare for Sunday. But it's been reported for a week that Matthews probably would be back for this game, so Smith and his staff are doing plenty to prepare themselves.
"He's one of the best players in the league," Smith said. "That'll definitely give them a boost. They're a better football team with him on the football field."
No one has a motor like Matthews does. Seeing No.52 on the practice field again reminded some members of the defense what they had been missing the past four games.
"Whew, that was great," end Ryan Pickett said. "He's back, he's healthy, that's great. He looked good to me."
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