Packers Injury Updates: Clay Matthews returns to practice, Sam Shields sits

Wednesday's practice was the first opportunity for the Green Bay Packers who were injured in Sunday's loss to Denver to return to the practice field. Thankfully, the star of the defense was back on the field, but a pair of critical defensive backs weren't able to give it a go just yet.

Linebacker Clay Matthews is that star, and he was working in practice today, albeit on a limited basis. The ankle injury that he suffered late in the game on Sunday does not appear to be serious enough to keep him out of next week's game in Carolina. Likewise, rookie wide receiver Ty Montgomery was limited on Wednesday after being inactive against the Broncos with an ankle issue of his own. This marks Montgomery's first practice since before the Packers' week six win against the Chargers.

A third Packer, linebacker Nick Perry, was also limited. He has been working through shoulder and hand injuries since the Rams game in week five.

Unfortunately, three other Packers did not practice at all today - cornerbacks Sam Shields and Quinten Rollins, both of whom were sidelined early on in Denver with upper-body injuries, were unable to make it onto the field today. Shields' injury was reported as a shoulder, which was what was reported during the game; however, Rollins' appearance is noted as being due to a neck injury instead of the previously-reported shoulder injury.

Naturally, a neck injury diagnosis should put a little bit of fear into Packers fans, who have seen numerous Packers suffer career-ending neck injuries in the past few years. Jermichael Finley's career was ended by a neck injury and safety Sean Richardson is currently on injured reserve with one of his own.

The third player missing was fullback Aaron Ripkowski, who was sidelined with an illness and appears likely to return later this week.

Stay tuned for an update from Thursday's practice.