Packers not worried about injuries to Matthews, Perry

Two central components of the Green Bay Packers' reshuffled defense missed practice time on Wednesday.

Linebacker Nick Perry sat out entirely with a shoulder injury, while Clay Matthews (groin) was a limited participant. Packers coach Mike McCarthy gave the indication neither injury is severe.

Perry has started the last two games since Matthews became lining up at inside linebacker. His first two NFL seasons were injured riddled. Despite missing all of the offseason program with a knee/foot injury, Perry has played in all 10 games this season with 18 tackles and three sacks.

Matthews missed some time earlier this year after suffering a groin strain Week 3 against Detroit, but returned the following week against Chicago. He has 34 tackles and 4½ sacks in 10 games, and is on track to start in all 16 games for the first time in his career.

McCarthy said he spoke briefly with Matthews, who "doesn't have high concern" about the extent of the injury. He was active during the portion of practice open to the media Wednesday morning

"Just some things that are bothering them from the game," McCarthy said. "Clay was limited today and Nick maybe, maybe, might get some limited work in tomorrow, and probably not anything til Saturday is the plan."

Veteran Jarrett Bush, who has been one of the team's most durable players, also missed practice with a groin injury. McCarthy added: "Sometimes we have to protect him from himself. I just felt that he needed to, not take a day off, it's just we're going to smart with him (Wednesday) and (Thursday)."

Like Perry, starting guards Josh Sitton (toe) and T.J. Lang (ankle) spent the portion of practice open to the media riding stationary bikes like they have been the past two weeks.

Sitton said the injury didn't get any worse after initially suffering ligament damage in the Packers' 44-23 loss to New Orleans inside the Superdome before the bye.

"I think Josh, he's played very well," McCarthy said. "There's some subtle differences but nothing we're really going to get into here. I think any time players go through a change, whether it's physically or what they have to overcome, there's adjustments that need to be made and he's done a great job with that."

Tight end Brandon Bostick (hip) also sat out of practice, while outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott (hamstring) returned after missing one game.

-whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.