GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Here's a trivia question for you: How many preseason games has Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews played in his career?

Put it this way: He's played more seasons (two) than preseason games (one).

Clay Matthews has collected 23.5 sacks in his first two seasons in the league. Al Bello/Getty Images

With all the hand-wringing going on in recent months about missed offseason practices and shortened training camps, it's worth noting Matthews' alternative path. In each of his two previous training camps, Matthews has suffered a significant hamstring injury. In 2009 it cost him more than two weeks of practice and three preseason games. Last season, he suffered the injury during the second week of camp and didn't return to practice until days before the regular-season opener.

Those absences hardly slowed him on the way to a combined 23.5 sacks over those two seasons. So I had to stifle a laugh Sunday when Matthews went out of his way to note offseason work designed to lessen the possibility of a summer injury.

I asked Matthews: "Did you really need those camps?"

Matthews' response: "What do you think?"

Me: Uh-oh. Don't hit me.

Matthews added: "Obviously I would like to be out there with the team, but fortunately I stood aside and made mental notes and stayed involved in the defense and everything. But hopefully we can stay healthy this year. For the most part, I'll be ready to go."

Matthews said he had slimmed down this offseason, taking advantage of a consistent workout schedule in California and adopting a more disciplined eating program. He wouldn't say if he reported to camp at a lower weight but joked "I just got myself a six-pack."

In all seriousness, Matthews does appear slimmer. He said he put "extra emphasis on running and field work" during the offseason so he could make sure he was able to "handle anything I need as far as running and lifting" this summer.

I can't even bring myself to note that Matthews has made it through the Packers' first two practices of camp considering players aren't wearing pads and there has been no real contact. (Wait, I just did.) Monday evening will feature the Packers' first padded practice of the summer.

Before we sign off, however, here are a few thoughts from Sunday evening's session: