Packers Daily Links: Stopping Peterson, Vikings Run Game Difficult Minus Matthews, Wilson

Without C.J. Wilson and Clay Matthews, stopping Adrian Peterson and the Vikings ground game will be tough. That and more in today's Daily Links...

One week after the Packers had trouble stopping the New York Giants rushing attack, the task doesn't get any easier this upcoming weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. "Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings roll into town Sunday, and the Packers expect they'll be without defensive end C.J. Wilson, a cornerstone of their run defense," writes Nancy Armour of the Associated Press. "That's on top of the absences of Charles Woodson and, most likely, Clay Matthews." Both Matthews and Wilson are very, very good players at stuffing the run. Without their services, the Packers will face an uphill battle. This is a matchup not to be taken lightly.

More on the Packers run defense comes from Packer Report and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

The good news regarding Clay Matthews is that he's working with the strength and conditioning staff despite being sidelined. "In the first public sign that LB Clay Matthews is getting closer to a return from a pulled hamstring that has sidelined him for two games, Matthews took part in an extensive workout inside the Don Hutson Center while his teammates practiced," writes Tom Silverstein at JSOnline. Matthews has not been ruled out of Sunday's game, though head coach Mike McCarthy has said it would be a stretch for Matthews to play in the Vikings game.

More on Clay Matthews comes from Fox Sports Wisconsin and JSOnline.

Defensive lineman C.J. Wilson considers himself lucky that his injury isn't worse. "When Giants guard Chris Snee rolled on his knee and then others piled on at the end of the first play from scrimmage on Sunday, Packers defensive end C.J. Wilson thought his season was over," writes Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette. Like Clay Matthews, Wilson hasn't been ruled out of Sunday's game either. But it's not looking as if he'll play. The Packers are fine with B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett in their base defense, but Jerel Worthy just hasn't been cutting it. Either Mike Neal or Mike Daniels might be better options in the 3-4 without Wilson.

More on C.J. Wilson comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com.

No matter who suits up or who's sitting on the bench for the Packers, they'll still have to stop Vikings running back Adrian Peterson regardless. "Tackling the Minnesota Vikings future Hall of Fame running back can be as difficult as slowing down a runaway snow plow and few know that better than the Green Bay Packers, whose driveway he has cleared many times," writes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. Peterson is in the midst of one of his best seasons ever with over 1,200 rushing yards this year.

More on Adrian Peterson comes from Fox Sports Wisconsin, Press-Gazette, ESPNMilwaukee.com, Packer Report, JSOnline and the Packers official website.

Wide receiver Greg Jennings was a full participant at practice on Tuesday for the first time in weeks, and he doesn't want to be held back on Sunday. "Obviously they're probably going to err on the side of gradually implementing me in there," Jennings is quoted as saying at JSOnline. "If I had a say, I would just say just let me go. I’m good. There’s no need for that." The Packers rightfully should limit his snaps on Sunday so he doesn't suffer from a fatigue injury. But there's no reason that in a week or two that he can play as much as he normally would.

More on Greg Jennings comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com, Packer Report, the Associated Press and Fox 11.

Mike McCarthy says there will be no changes made on the offensive line, according to the Journal Sentinel and ESPNMilwaukee.com.

This week's Packer Plus publication features articles on guard Evan Dietrich-Smith, the secondary's ups and downs, former Packer Bill Forester, a preview of the Vikings game, a column on the Packers run game and Biever photography family.

Aaron Rodgers is avoiding turnovers, as Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel writes.

Fox Sports Wisconsin has items on Aaron Rodgers' mustache and Derek Sherrod.

Pro Bowl voting results involving the Packers are at the Packers official website and Packer Report.

JSOnline has items on the Vikings pass rush and a video with Bob McGinn talking about the Vikings game.

The division-heavy schedule in December is touched upon at the Packers official website.

A column at AllGreenBayPackers.com calls the Packers "still damn good."

The coaching staff is called upon to use common sense by Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette.

Packer Report looks at the Vikings' Cover 2 defense.

Video: The crew at the Press-Gazette has their weekly Insiders video...

Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (10)

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Derek's picture

November 29, 2012 at 11:06 am

You can't tell me there isn't a 340 lb street free agent out there who they could sign and activate for this game. A Howard Green type, just to help plug a hole.

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fubared's picture

November 29, 2012 at 06:06 pm

Sorry all the good ones are on the Giants, Patriots, Denver.... do you get the idea that all the better QB's stand behind great O lines, except ours.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

November 29, 2012 at 02:16 pm

WTF is up with Matthews? Originally, MM said it wasn't as bad as the last time (when he only missed 1 game if I recall)... Now he's looking to miss a third game, with a bye thrown in there. I'm absolutely finished believing a word the FO has to say regarding the severity on an injury. Bunch of fucking liars or idiots... I hope it's the former.

GBP 4 LIFE

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woodson4president's picture

November 29, 2012 at 02:43 pm

Still "damn good".....prove it pack!

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fubared's picture

November 29, 2012 at 06:05 pm

I'm down on the Packers or I should say TT. He is the reason for a lot of this, drafting players who have been injury prone, cheap and available in the late rounds and just compiling a bunch of wannabee's and passing on sure bets (Peppers, others) to help the team.
The Vikes only draft DB's who are at least 6'1 and have played in proven programs. We on the other hand have a slew of 5'9 DB's who are poor tacklers.

You get what you pay for and Ted, is playing cheap ball and its catching up to the team.

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GBPDan's picture

November 30, 2012 at 03:12 am

The DBs Ted drafted will probably pan out with time, I'm more down on him for not providing another pass rushers ,or 2 , to help CM3 (or fill in if CM3 is hurt) and Oline help. He has failed in those 2 categories .

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Jamie's picture

November 30, 2012 at 08:08 am

This has to be one of the more unintentionally clueless posts I've read in a while.

Complaining about how we draft DBs vs how the vikes do? What???

First, TT doesn't draft DBs under 5' 11...ever. Meanwhile the vikes have drafted INJURY PRONE GARBAGE at CB for years (who we've trashed repeatedly), and their best CB is still Winfield...a short guy that's known more for his tackling than his coverage...who they didn't draft.

I won't even get into the remaining barrage of ignorance.

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Tommyboy's picture

November 30, 2012 at 08:43 am

How in the world do you justify this? He had the same approach for Super Bowl 45 and he works under the same cap/floor as every other team. EVERY team has a "cheap" spot. And perhaps a review of teams that try to "buy" their championships in the NFL is in order. The Eagles have had two years of the "Dream Team." How's that panning out? How many times have we seen the Redskins do this? The Cowboys? The Raiders?

You don't have to like TT, but arguing that he's "cheap" is simply ignorant.

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Scott W's picture

November 30, 2012 at 09:32 am

TT's Super Bowl ring disagrees with this clueless post.... :/

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steven's picture

November 30, 2012 at 03:03 am

House,williams,woodson,heyward! Bad cbs huh?

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