Green Bay Packers Clay Matthews says he’ll play

Green Bay Packers star outside linebacker Clay Matthews is one of the league’s toughest players, so he’s always been expected to play through the pain after suffering a groin injury in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to the Detroit Lions. Matthews, as expected, never returned to the game, and his timetable for a return remains uncertain at this early point. That said, he stated earlier this week that he expects to play through the injury, and that expectation hasn’t changed after a few days.

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According to ESPN Wisconsin’s Jason Wilde, Matthews told reporters that “he’ll be there” on Sunday to face another division rival in the Chicago Bears, and it sure as heck will be a charged game. The Packers will need him to get after Jay Cutler early and often in order to take pressure off of a secondary that has plenty of talent and has played up to it thus far. Matthews’s underrated run defense might be more important, though, against Matt Forte.

Matthews was able to put in a limited day of practice today, so he’s definitely on track to play against the Bears. His status isn’t locked in yet, though, but more positive news tomorrow will put him on that track. For now, it would be unwise to bet against him suiting up, especially given the magnitude of this game and his importance to the defense.