Getty Images

It has been a month since the Packers have been able to take the field with linebacker Clay Matthews in the lineup, but they may be getting him back on the field this weekend.

Matthews is expected to be a full participant in Thursday’s practice, during which he will try out how it feels to play with a club on his right hand to protect the broken thumb that has kept him out of action. If all goes well with that, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Matthews should be in the lineup against the Eagles on Sunday.

He may be joined by Nick Perry, who is also expected to be a full participant in practice on Thursday. Perry’s been out with a foot injury and said he felt good after making it back to the practice field.

Getting both outside linebackers back would be a nice development for a Packers team that figures to be relying a bit more heavily on their defense with Aaron Rodgers on the shelf for the near future.