Coming into training camp, some observers thought the Green Bay Packers needed to bring in a veteran outside linebacker to compete for a spot roster.

After Saturday's Family Night scrimmage, that time might be upon them. With a scheduled day off today, the Packers have until Monday to figure out a plan of action at the position when they return to practice at 2 p.m.

Second-year Pro Bolwer Clay Matthews "tweaked" his hamstring last evening, leaving the Packers slightly thin at a position without a lot of depth.

"The scoreboard for me personally, the way I view it, is the No. 1 score that I am interested in is our medical report," said head coach Mike McCarthy following last night's action. "You want to come out of this controlled scrimmage healthy, there is no doubt about it. But at some point you are going to be in live action."

Aside from Matthews, two other outside linebackers sat out of Saturday's festivities completely, Brady Poppinga who suffered a concussion on Thursday. and undrafted rookie Frank Zombo who has been dealing with an ankle injury.

That left Matthews as one of only four healthy outside linebackers able to suit up last evening joining the newly converted Brandon Chillar, Brad Jones and Cyril Obiozor. It's a position that has been left even thinner following the move of Robert Francois to inside linebacker this past week during training camp.

The severity of Matthews' hamstring injury is, as of yet, unknown. But a red flag has to be thrown up considering it was a hamstring injury that kept him out of training camp for a couple weeks last year when it was thought Matthews may have "overworked" his ailing "hammy."

The time missed by Matthews last season was enough for Brady Poppinga to take take over the starting spot at left outside linebacker at the beginning of the '09 regular season. Matthews wouldn't retain the starting job until the fourth game.

Likewise, it's unknown how long the injuries to Poppinga and Zombo will continue to keep them out of action. But if all three injured outside linebackers aren't able to return to practice by Monday, the Packers will only have three able bodies. And they're entering a week that culminates in the first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns Saturday in Green Bay.

The easiest option may be to return Francois to his original OLB position where he began training camp. That, however, would leave the Packers slightly short-handed at inside linebacker where they've been holding out Nick Barnett from time to time following an offseason knee scope.

There are very few veteran linebackers on the free agent market. Adalius Thomas, who was released by the New England Patriots, remains a possibility.

The Packers could also re-sign an undrafted rookie like Tim Knicky or John Russell who was cut just days before training camp began in order to get Atari Bigby and Bryan Bulaga under contract. In order to sign anyone outside the team, though, the Packers would have to cut a player to make room for them.