Green Bay Packers

Clay Matthews playing ILB exclusively after defensive adjustment

Published Sep. 22, 2015 1:02 p.m. ET

foxsports

All spring and summer, Clay Matthews wondered if he'd play more inside or outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers in 2015.

Well, a season-ending injury to inside linebacker Sam Barrington helped clear that up. In Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks -- Green Bay's first game without Barrington -- Matthews did not play any snaps at outside linebacker, according to Pro Football Focus (h/t ESPN's Rob Demovsky).

After the game, Matthews spoke about his "adjusted" role in Green Bay's defense, via ESPN:

I don't think we anticipated having our starting inside linebacker go down in Week 1. My role on this defense has definitely been adjusted. It's one of those things that it's not about me. It's about the team. You see that with the results that have been put out there. It seems like we're trending in the right direction. It may not be my natural position, but I feel like I can fill that void and make some plays there. That's where they need me now, and it's my job.

Matthews is most lethal as a pass-rusher off the edge, but the defense is stouter overall when he lines up inside. After limiting Seattle's Marshawn Lynch to an average of 2.7 yards per carry on Sunday, the Packers now face the challenge of slowing down Kansas City's Jamaal Charles next Monday night.

(h/t ESPN)