Clay Matthews Out, Jordy Nelson in for Green Bay vs. Detroit

The Green Bay Packers (6-3) will be without linebacker Clay Matthews when they play against the Detroit Lions (4-5) at Ford Field on Sunday. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson, however, is expected to play according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Clay Matthews injured his hamstring in the Packers’ Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals and has been ruled out of this week’s game. Mike McCarthy said before the bye week that Matthews would be out for two weeks and he appears to be sticking with that timeline.

The 26-year-old linebacker from USC is in his fourth year in the league and currently sits fifth in the NFL with nine sacks.

Nelson has also battled a hamstring injury this year, but it was an ankle injury he sustained against the Cardinals that threatened to keep him out of action this week.  

It appears as though Nelson will be ready to go on Sunday, however.

McCarthy indicated on Wednesday that Nelson’s ankle wasn’t causing him any trouble in practice. "I thought Jordy looked like his normal self today in practice so I’m hopeful that we’re past his ankle injury," said the head coach, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Nelson has been the Packers No. 1 receiver in the absence of Greg Jennings, who continues to recover from surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle.

Nelson is coming off a career year that included 15 touchdown receptions and over 1,200 receiving yards. In eight games this season Nelson has 40 receptions for 532 receiving yards and five touchdowns.