Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews could miss the all of the playoffs after undergoing a second surgery on his broken right thumb. If the timetable for his return is similar to the first time he injured his thumb, Matthews may not be able to play until the Super Bowl, according to ESPN.
Matthews broke his right thumb for the second time this season after sacking Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday and underwent surgery earlier this week. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the injury was similar to when Matthews broke the same thumb on Oct. 6 when he sacked Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
If the injury is similar to the Oct. 6 injury, which was a Bennett's fracture, then Matthews could be out until February.
"Matthews was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears and if the timeline is similar to his first injury, he probably could not play before the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 (if) the Packers were to make it that far," ESPN's Rob Demovsky wrote on Friday.
Packers linebacker Kevin Greene conveyed Matthews's unhappiness about being sidelined with the injury.
"Obviously he's not happy," Green said, via ESPN. "He's not a happy camper. I mean, he's a professional, he understands that's the nature of the game. It's a bad luck deal."
McCarthy offered no official timeline on Matthews's return.
Matthews missed four games this season after breaking his right thumb the first time. He underwent surgery on Oct. 7, the day after he was injured, and had the pins removed on Nov. 4; he returned the next week against Philadelphia.
The four-time Pro Bowler has 41 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles through Week 16.