GREEN BAY — We know Clay Matthews was not on the field for the Green Bay Packers' last two defensive series during their Jan. 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. We also know that the Packers' star linebacker returned for the defense's final series, the Seahawks' game-winning touchdown drive in overtime.
And while we still don't know exactly why Matthews missed those two series, coach Mike McCarthy didn't exactly dispel the notion Wednesday that Matthews may have been experiencing concussion-like symptoms after the collision with Willson with 10 minutes 41 seconds left in regulation.
Asked during his season wrap-up news conference Wednesday whether Matthews was ever examined for a possible concussion, McCarthy said the only exam he knew the medical staff administered was for a knee injury.
But McCarthy also acknowledged that he saw Matthews on the sideline and was wondering if something was wrong with him.
"I don't know about a concussion. I know he was being looked at there at the end [for] his knee," McCarthy said. "But he did have a couple collisions, and we may be talking about the same play. I saw it and I actually walked towards him, because Jordy Nelson waved to me. I talked to Clay and he just said he needed a minute. Looking him in the eye and everything, I didn't see any reason for concern there."
After leading with his head to hit Willson on the incomplete pass, Matthews can be seen on FOX Sports' replay putting his hands to his head while lying on the CenturyLink Field turf. He then jogs off to the Packers sideline, where he did not immediately interact with trainers.
Matthews returns for several plays later in the drive, which ended in Seattle punting. He was not on the field for Morgan Burnett's interception on the ensuing series, then wasn't on the field for the last two Seattle possessions of regulation, as the Seahawks turned a 19-7 deficit into a 22-19 lead.
After the Packers tied the game with a field goal in the closing seconds of regulation, Matthews was back on the field in overtime, when the Seahawks won the game on a 35-yard touchdown on the sixth play of extra time.
After the game, McCarthy said he wasn't aware that Matthews was out of the game late in regulation. On Wednesday, McCarthy said because of his duties as the offensive play-caller, the medical staff may have checked Matthews out without his knowledge.
"As far as, the doctors, especially being a play-caller, I don't get every play by play of what every guy was looked at [for] during the course of the game," McCarthy said. "I really don't even get that until after a home game until I go back through the training room and we have a list that we go through each guy he has seen. Just the way we're structured, unless it impacts the game as far as a player injury, I'm not really notified."
Here's a look at two screen captures from FOX Sports' broadcast of the play in question.
Jason Wilde wrote: