We knew Clay Matthews hurt his thumb while sacking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger last Sunday, but didn’t know much more, other than he wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.
On Friday, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Matthews broke the same thumb he broke earlier in the season and he’s already had surgery.
There’s no timetable for his return.
McCarthy: "I'm not giving a timeline on Clay (Matthews). Clay Matthews has had surgery." #Packers
— Paul (@Paulimig) December 27, 2013
Matthews suffered the original break on October 6 when he sacked Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. He had surgery the next day and missed four weeks. His first week back, he played with a huge club on his hand, and was ineffective.
That tells us the Packers would have to make the Super Bowl for any chance of Matthews playing again this year.
So, in other words, you’ve probably seen all you’re going to see of Clay Matthews until 2014.
Matthews had a pretty disappointing season in 2013, after signing a big-money extension in the offseason. He played in only 11 games, recording 41 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He had only one multiple sack game and had four games with no sacks.