GREEN BAY, WIS. (AP) - After not sacking Brett Favre once in two losses to the Minnesota Vikings last year, the Green Bay defense feels it will have enough manpower to pressure the former Packers quarterback Sunday night.
“It will be a different year this year,” defensive end Ryan Pickett said Friday. “We’re planning on getting to him more than we got to him last year.”
The Packers may have NFL sacks leader Clay Matthews back for the game after missing last week’s loss to Miami with a hamstring injury.
“Barring any setback, I think he’ll be ready to go,” coach Mike McCarthy said.
Matthews wants to contribute on a full-time basis, though he may be limited to keep him healthy for later in the season.
“I think the plan is it’s either all or nothing,” said Matthews, who has 8 1/2 sacks. “I’m sure they’ll spell me a few times to catch me a break, but at the same time, I look to continue my play which I’ve put together to begin the season.”
Green Bay’s defense, which has been depleted in recent weeks by injuries to several key players, also might have cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bigby available. Both former starters started practicing Wednesday after missing the first six weeks of the season.
Pickett (ankle) and linebacker Brandon Chillar (shoulder) are questionable for the game, but both expect to play Sunday.
“I feel the urgency,” Pickett said. “I need to be out there for this game. This is a big game. We need all of the people we can, go out there and try to make some plays and stop (running back) Adrian Peterson.”
Just as important to the Packers is putting some heat on Favre, who returns to Lambeau Field as the enemy in Vikings purple for the second time after his 16-year run in Green Bay ended with a controversial trade before the 2008 season.
Favre threw for 515 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions in the Vikings’ two-game sweep of the Packers in 2009.
“He sat back there and picked us apart,” said Matthews, who started both games as a rookie. “We don’t have to lie about that. We have to get some pressure on him. Knowing he’s not as mobile as he once was when he was younger, if we can get some hits on him, get him off his game, I think it’ll pay dividends for us.”
Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said the inability to sack Favre wasn’t for lack of trying.
“There were a few times where we had guys flat free right up inside, and he got rid of the ball,” Capers said. “Brett’s not dumb, you know. … He got the ball out of his hands. When that’s the case, you’ve just got to be able to cover them well enough.”
Favre is 8-0 in his career against teams for which Capers was a head coach or defensive coordinator. The first came in Favre’s first of 275 straight starts for the Packers on Sept. 27, 1992, when Capers was Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator.
“I don’t ever look at that,” Capers said. “It’s not about Dom Capers. I’ve been on good teams, and I’ve been on teams that haven’t been so good. But, Brett’s a good quarterback, and he’s been on a lot of good teams. I’m sure I’m not exclusive in that crowd.”
NOTES: WR Donald Driver (quadricep) returned to practice on a limited basis Friday and is probable for Sunday’s game. Driver expects to play. He has missed only one game because of injury since 2002. … CB Charles Woodson (toe) is probable, though he missed practice Thursday and Friday for what his coach described as a personal matter “of a positive nature” without disclosing details.
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