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After the Packers announced Clay Matthews' second surgery it seemed all but inevitable that the linebacker would miss the team's first playoff game. However, with Ted Thompson electing to keep Matthews on the active roster, there was some hope that a quick turnaround remained on the table.
That changed Monday when head coach Mike McCarthy announced that Matthews has already been ruled out for Sunday's playoff game against the 49ers.
"I really don't have a feel for Clay as far as where he is. I really haven't even seen him to talk to him," McCarthy said. "You're always cautious with players after surgery. Right now, he's out for this week, and that's really what we're focused on."
Typically, when the Packers rule out a player this early in the week, it indicates a heightened level of severity regarding the injury. In other words, Matthews probably isn't anywhere close to a return.
Matthews' health will be an ongoing storyline as long as the Packers are alive. While it won't garner the same attention as Aaron Rodgers' collarbone saga, it could ultimately affect how deep Green Bay goes in the playoffs.
