Matthews limited; Lang, Rollins sit out practice

GREEN BAY - Outside linebacker Clay Matthews was in pads, riding the elliptical machine and watching the extended walk-through at practice Thursday, but whether he took snaps with the defense during team drills isn't known.

The media does not get to watch those drills and Matthews may have been limited to just cardio work or he may have been warming up his injured hamstring to get ready to take part in some team drills. Coach Mike McCarthy said prior to practice that he expected Matthews to be limited but do more than he had on Wednesday.

When asked if this was a situation similar to the week of the Detroit game, which Matthews wound up missing, McCarthy said, "I hope not."

Matthews re-injured the hamstring late in the Chicago Bears game last Thursday. After he pulled up on that play, he did not return to the game. Matthews originally injured the hamstring against Minnesota in Week 2 and then was not able to play the following week against Detroit. He has started and every game since but played fewer snaps than usual.

Sitting out the padded practice was guard T.J. Lang (hip), cornerbacks Quinten Rollins (groin) and Damarious Randall (groin surgery), running back James Starks (knee surgery) and tight end Jared Cook (ankle).

Starks and Cook made their debuts at practice since suffering their injuries and worked out on the side with trainers. Both jumped rope and Cook ran some half-speed routes that required him to make a single cut before receiving a pass.

McCarthy said that running back Don Jackson has responded well to his hand injury and didn't appear to have any trouble handling the ball in Wednesday's practice.