The Packers expect to have OLB Clay Matthews in the starting lineup Sunday against the Bears.  He's listed as probable despite limited practices all week following a Week 3 groin injury.  The groin certainly adds some risk to Matthews, but he's fine to use in your big-play IDP league.  Matthews missed both Bears meetings last year but beat them up for 5.5 sacks across 2 meetings in 2012.  Packers ILB Brad Jones might return for the 1st time since Week 1.  He's listed as questionable with the quad injury that cost him the past 2 games.  Jones put in only limited practices all week, though, and would thus make for a risky IDP option even if he returns.  We'll see whether he regains a full-time role once he's back to full health.  Jones might land in a rotation with A.J. Hawk and Jamari Lattimore.

The Packers confirmed Friday that OLB Clay Matthews has undergone a 2nd surgery on his right thumb after re-injuring it against the Steelers last Sunday.  He previously fractured the thumb back on Oct. 6 and missed 4 games after that 1st surgery.  We have no reason to believe the issue will linger into the 2014 season.

The Packers have already ruled OLB Clay Matthews out for Sunday's finale against the Bears.  The team deemed Matthews' Week 16 thumb injury a "repeat injury."  He originally fractured his right thumb back on Oct. 6 and missed 4 games.

Packers OLB Clay Matthews left Sunday's game against Pittsburgh after re-injuring his right thumb.  Matthews missed 4 games earlier this season after fracturing the thumb.  We'll see how serious the issue is this time.

Packers LB Clay Matthews practiced with a smaller cast on his right hand Wednesday.  That's significant because the club he wore against the Eagles in Week 10 rendered him a 1-armed pass-rusher -- and an ineffective one at that.  Matthews also must deal with some pain in his return from thumb-fracture surgery but says the club is the bigger issue.  We'll see if the new cast frees any fingers to enable more hand use.  For the time being, Matthews is tough to use in IDP leagues.

The Packers announced Thursday that LB Clay Matthews is on track to play against the Eagles on Sunday. It would be his 1st action in more than a month, since he came out of the Oct. 6 win over Detroit with a fractured thumb.  The injury might hinder Matthews' hand usage, but he's good enough to be worth playing right away in sack-heavy IDP leagues.  We've added him to the Week 10 LB rankings.  His return boosts the Green Bay team D as well.

Packers LB Clay Matthews won't return to game action until at least the Week 10 meeting with Philadelphia.  ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports that Matthews is scheduled to get the pins removed from his fractured right thumb next Monday.  If all goes all, he might be able to return for the following game.  "I'm hoping for the best, but it was a unique break," Matthews said. "I'm praying for the best when they take [the pins] out. It could be as early as Philadelphia. It could be as late as Thanksgiving [at Detroit]. Hopefully, there's nothing unforeseen when they do that."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Packers LB Clay Matthews is expected to miss a month because of the broken thumb he suffered in Sunday's win over the Lions.  "I'm hopeful it's not season-ending," HC Mike McCarthy said Monday. "I think we're all hopeful, but you have to get all the opinions and make sure you always do right by the player."  Losing Matthews for any amount of time crushes the value of Green Bay's team D.

Packers LB Clay Matthews suffered a broken thumb in Sunday's win over the Lions.  The team has yet to announce whether the injury will require surgery.  If it does, Matthews would seem likely to miss at least a game to heal up after the operation.  If he avoids surgery, he might be able to play through it with a club on the injured hand.  We'll see what HC Mike McCarthy has to say Monday.

Packers LB Clay Matthews missed practice Wednesday with the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 3.  He said before the bye that the injury wasn't a big deal, but the fact that he couldn't take the field after a week off doesn't look good for his Week 5 playing status.  You should look for another option for your IDP lineup.  Missing Matthews would take upside away from the Packers' team D as well.

Packers LB Clay Matthews left today's game against Cincinnati with a hamstring injury.  The team deemed his return questionable.

Update: ESPN's Rob Demovsky, a longtime Packers beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, says it's the same injury that has sidelined Matthews multiple times before.  We'll see how significant the issue is this time around.

OLB Clay Matthews returned to practice today for the 1st time since a Nov. 4 hamstring injury. He appears in line to return against the Bears this weekend. That works out nicely for IDP owners, because Matthews hit up Chicago for 7 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a pass deflection back in Week 2. S Charles Woodson, meanwhile, will sit out another week. He seemed to be ready to return as well, but doctors decided he should rehab his broken clavicle a bit longer.

OLB Clay Matthews is out once again with his hamstring injury. That adds risk to a Packers defense that still carries upside against Minnesota.

The Packers have ruled out OLB Clay Matthews for Sunday's clash with the Lions. Matthews suffered a hamstring injury in Week 9 that was expected to cost him time beyond last weekend's bye. Promising rookie Dezman Moses is expected to start in Matthews' place. Matthews' absence obviously doesn't help a team D that we don't like as a fantasy starter this week.

Clay Matthews left Sunday's game with a left hamstring pull. The injury actually knocked him out twice, the first time for just 1 play. It's an injury that bothered Matthews in both 2009 and 2010, but he reportedly says it's not as bad this time. Doctors, however, said he'll be out a couple of weeks. Green Bay is heading into it's bye, so we'll see if he misses game time.

Unsurprisingly, the Packers have deactivated OLB Clay Matthews for today's matchup with the Lions. Matthews hasn't missed any time this year but has played through multiple minor leg injuries.

The Panthers will start rookie UDFA Byron Bell today in place of RT Jeff Otah, who suffered a Week 1 concussion. That means Bell will spend a large chunk of his debut dealing with Packers OLB Clay Matthews. The Panthers would be stupid to allow such a 1-on-1 matchup, especially in passing situations. That will likely mean extra blocking duty for the Carolina TEs. That doesn't help the fantasy outlook for Greg Olsen. Matthews, of course, looks like a strong play in sack-friendly IDP leagues.

NFL.com's Steve Wyche confirms that Packers LB Clay Matthews (hamstring) is expected to play this Sunday night against the Vikings.  Matthews almost gave it a go last week, so barring a setback, he should be close to 100% by this weekend.  Green Bay got virtually no pressure on Dolphins QB Chad Henne last week without Matthews, so his return is great news for the pass defense.

Packers LB Clay Matthews (hamstring) is inactive for today's game against the Dolphins.  Green Bay's pass rush will struggle without him.

Packers LB Clay Matthews (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.  Green Bay's pass rush is just mediocre without Matthews, so this is excellent news for Miami's passing attack.  This could turn into a shootout at Lambeau Field.