Clay Matthews on sideline for Family Night due to knee soreness: "Hopefully it's not too much longer"

GREEN BAY — Packers star linebacker Clay Matthews still is not practicing and skipped the team's annual Family Night session at Lambeau Field Saturday, August 8th.

Matthews had to enjoy Family Night's buzz generated by about 70,000 people Saturday on the sideline.

Green Bay's defensive standout is dealing with some knee soreness, which has kept him out of practice all week.

"Hopefully it's not too much longer," Matthews said after practice Friday.

Noting the team's medical staff is just being smart by keeping him off the field since Monday, Matthews is hopeful he can return to action next week, possibly in time for the Packers' first preseason game. That comes Thursday, August 13th with a road matchup against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Matthews insists the setback early in Training Camp isn't serious and certainly not cause for concern among Packers fans.