Matthews, Mack to share pass-rushing spotlight
GREEN BAY – Clay Matthews, like everyone else, knew the Green Bay Packers were pursuing a trade for pass rusher Khalil Mack.
His perspective might have been unique, however.
Matthews has been atop the outside linebacker depth chart (other than a stint at inside linebacker in 2014 and ’15) since the day the Packers traded back into the first round to draft him in 2009. Mack’s presence would have potentially helped him on the field, but also supplanted him as the team’s top pass rusher.
Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that while Matthews said he would’ve welcomed Mack into the locker room, he suggested a trade was unnecessary.
“There was already a 52 here,” Matthews quipped this week.
Indeed, Mack won’t be the only player wearing No. 52 with a spotlight on him Sunday night. When the Packers open against the Chicago Bears, Matthews will enter the final season of his contract. At age 32, it’s likely his last chance to garner a big-money deal.
If he stays healthy, Matthews will get plenty of chances to be impactful. The Packers have only four outside linebackers on their 53-man roster, though inside linebacker James Crawford has been cross-trained to rush from the edge, adding a fifth.
The quartet’s depth is uncertain. While Reggie Gilbert may emerge to give the Packers a productive edge rusher off the sideline, Kyler Fackrell remains primarily a special-teams contributor. As currently constructed, the Packers could be relying a lot on Matthews and Nick Perry.
“Obviously in years prior,” Matthews said, “I think we might’ve had five or six — whatever it is — guys that would contribute on special teams or when we’d be down on the active roster in game day, but we feel like we’ve got a pretty good grasp of this season moving forward as far as how we see this thing playing out with play time and reps and everything.
“And obviously we’ll be smart coming into the first game with myself and Nick, and obviously with what Reggie’s been able to do and Kyler knowing the system as well. We’ll be smart, but at the same time we have to go out there and produce.
“I know it’s a position in which you don’t see a lot of guys playing 99% of the snaps at that position. So I’m sure there’ll be a rotation. Coaches and ourselves will put us in the best position possible to make plays.”
The Packers have a massive edge at quarterback against the Bears. But the Bears have a similar advantage with their pass rush. Along with Mack, Chicago has Akiem Hicks and Leonard Floyd, a pair of rushers who can get to the quarterback on their own. Perry said he’s confident in his group. “That depth thing,” Perry said, “it’s nothing to us. We can handle the load, that’s what we’re here for. Just moving forward, we have what it takes to continue to push the envelope.
“At the end of the day, the big guys have got to kind of take the big load. That’s what they pay us for. I think as we move forward, we’ll get into a groove and rhythm of things.”
Man on the ‘move’
The Packers have three tight ends who have played a combined 27 seasons, a veteran group with as much experience as they’ve had in a long time, but they thought enough of Robert Tonyan to keep him on the 53-man roster.
In Tonyan, the Packers see a “move” tight end with the potential to develop into a weapon in the pass game. He’ll likely remain a special-teams contributor for now, but pass-game coordinator Jim Hostler said Tonyan could give the Packers an extra weapon in the future.
“Robert’s got some potential,” Hostler said. “He’s got route ability, meaning he has the ability to be in a multiple route tree inside and out. He’s got speed, obviously, and he’s got a body that’s still developing and growing. He’s got really good ball skills, he’s got a good understanding of football. All those things make for a tight end, especially a move tight end, somebody that you can move around and put in different spots as you saw us do.”
The question is whether Tonyan’s blocking can earn him a spot in the offense. As long as Jimmy Graham is healthy, he’ll be the primary tight end in the pass game. Other than Marcedes Lewis, the Packers don’t have another proven blocker at the position.
Tonyan, a converted receiver, remains a work in progress as a blocker. Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio said he’s optimistic Tonyan can develop in that area.
“Obviously that’s a different element of the game for him,” Angelichio said, “is being in a three-point stance with a guy right across from him. He embraced it. He showed he was willing to put his face in the fan, if you will. That’s an area that certainly he has to continue to grow in. The good thing is he showed signs that he’s willing to do that.”
Jones out
The Packers are close to a full, clean bill of health entering their opener against the Bears.
Safety Josh Jones (ankle) was the only player listed as out on the team’s injury report Friday. Inside linebackers Oren Burks (shoulder) and James Crawford (hamstring) were listed as questionable.
Jones did not practice this week because of his injury. Burks and Crawford were limited participants.