Matthews, Peppers will meet Wednesday with NFL

GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers outside linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers will meet Wednesday with the NFL for formal interviews regarding the league’s investigation into allegations of performance-enhancing drug use.

The NFL threatened to suspend Matthews and Peppers if they did not agree to interview with investigators before Thursday. Both players, along with former Packers outside linebacker Mike Neal, were alleged to have used performance-enhancing drugs in a December documentary from Al Jazeera America.

Matthews and Peppers have not spoken with reporters since training camp’s opening day.

“It’ll be nice for those guys to get it behind them and move forward without this hanging over their heads,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Tuesday.

Matthews and Peppers immediately denied the allegations after a game last season at the Arizona Cardinals.

Rodgers was asked if the investigation has been a distraction with the season looming. He nodded his head toward Matthews’ and Peppers’ empty lockers.

“Maybe you should ask them,” he said.

rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood