Packers: Three questions facing Clay Matthews in 2018

1. Can Matthews post double-digit sacks?

Matthews hasn’t posted double-digit sacks in a season since 2014. That year, he had 11. That season, he posted 2.5 sacks before switching to inside linebacker, where he finished the season with another 8.5 sacks.

Given his age and injury history, perhaps it’s too much to ask from Matthews. The 32-year-old continues to produce sacks, but he isn’t the same player he once was in his prime. He finished with 8.5 sacks last year. Can he go 1.5 sacks better and hit double digits this year?

On the flip side, simply playing the entire season might give him his best shot of hitting double digits. Assuming he continues to play at a similar level to last season, suiting up in all 16 games might be enough. He had 8.5 sacks in just 14 games last year, after all.

The Packers are relying on Matthews and Nick Perry to lead the way at outside linebacker. Perry, too, has been unable to stay healthy throughout his career, and is yet to play all 16 games in a season. Perry has hit double-digit sacks once, when he posted 11 back in 2016.

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This year Matthews needs to stay healthy. If he can, how will Mike Pettine use him? And will Matthews be able to hit the 10-sack milestone for the first time in four years?