Clay Matthews

Packers Snap Counts: Healthy again, Matthews causes havoc

Published Dec. 5, 2017 12:01 p.m. ET

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Tom Dierberger

After missing last week’s matchup with Pittsburgh, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was back to destroying offensive lines at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

Matthews played in 74 percent of the snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and tallied 2.5 sacks and seven tackles, both season highs. He hadn’t recorded at least 2.5 sacks in a single game since Dec. 21, 2014 against (who else?) the Buccaneers.



The 31-year-old linebacker is playing at a high level after a slow 2016 season. Matthews missed four games with a hamstring injury, played in just 46 percent of the snaps and tallied a career-low five sacks. It’s been a different story in 2017.

Matthews became Green Bay’s all-time sack leader in late September, surpassing Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. He ranks second on the team in sacks (6.0) this year, one behind fellow linebacker Nick Perry, and has played in about 70 percent of the snaps on defense.

Other notes from Sunday’s snap counts:

-- Jordy Nelson lined up for one more snap than Davante Adams. Nelson also saw more targets (8) than Adams (6) for the first time since Week 4, when Aaron Rodgers was still on the field.

-- Linebacker Joe Thomas, who has battled ankle injuries all year, played in his first defensive snaps since Week 4 against the Bears.

-- Rookie running back Aaron Jones was the hero with his 20-yard touchdown run that sealed the victory in overtime. He was on the field for just two snaps. Now that’s efficiency!

 

GAME 12: BUCCANEERS (OFFENSE)

GAME 12: BUCCANEERS (DEFENSE)

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Clay Matthews

Green Bay Packers

National Football League