Packers rookie Dezman Moses expected to start in place of injured Clay Matthews

Rookie Dezman Moses is expected to start on Sunday in place of Clay Matthews.

The Packers’ All-Pro outside linebacker has been ruled out of Green Bay’s NFC North contest at Detroit. Matthews injured a hamstring 11 days ago against Arizona. Coach Mike McCarthy is not sure if he’ll be available next week, either.

That leaves Moses, Frank Zombo and the re-acquired Vic So’oto to fill in. Moses says he’s ready. He’s been coached all year as if he’s been a starter the whole time. Moses says it’s part of the Packers “next man up” philosophy in which the backups are expected to be ready if the starters go down.

Actually, Moses has been quite active on the field. He has taken almost one of every five defensive snaps in Green Bay’s first nine games. Moses has one sack, and on special teams, he recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown.

Zombo is expected to relieve both Moses and the other outside linebacker, Erik Walden. Zombo has fresh legs after missing almost three months with a bad hamstring.

Mike Neal returns

Green Bay Packers’ defensive lineman Mike Neal returned to practice Thursday.

Neal had been out with an ankle injury suffered 11 days ago in the Pack’s home win over Arizona. He did not take part in any workouts since then.

Also, tight end Andrew Quarless returned to the injury list Thursday, sitting out with a knee injury. Back-up running back Johnny White didn’t work out either for unknown reasons, as of early Thursday afternoon.

Gearing up for Lions

The 6-3 Packers are gearing up to play at Detroit on Sunday.

At 4-5, the Lions’ playoff chances are not hopeless. But they say they need a jump-start.

The Lions hope that three straight home games at Ford Field will do the trick, starting on Sunday against the Packers.

A year ago, the Lions made the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. They played exciting football at home, while firing up a crowd that was so loud it forced a number of false-start penalties against opponents.

This year, Detroit has trailed at halftime in all but one of their nine games. But they’ve waged more than their share of second-half comebacks.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford says the Lions never feel they’re out of a game. As a result, Detroit is only a game and a half away from the NFC’s final Wild Card spot, which is now held by Minnesota and Seattle.

Detroit fans have not seen much of their team in person. Only three of the Lions’ nine games have been at home. They’ll play five of their last seven regular season contests under the dome at Ford Field.

They’ll have some tough opponents, including Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and Indianapolis at home, and the Packers both at home and at Green Bay.

Quarterbacks suffer concussions

Aaron Rodgers has already learned what three other NFL quarterbacks are about to learn – that you have to be smart when scrambling out of the pocket to avoid getting a concussion.

Chicago’s Jay Cutler, San Francisco’s Alex Smith and Philadelphia’s Michael Vick all left their games last weekend with concussions that apparently occurred on running plays, the type of play in which Rodgers received a concussion at Detroit two years ago.

The Packers return to Ford Field on Sunday to face the Lions. So with Rodgers’ return there, and all the concussions around the league, it was just natural for reporters to focus on the subject during their interview sessions Wednesday.

Rodgers was hit from behind while scrambling for a first down. It caused him to miss the second half of a Packers loss to the Lions, plus the following game in which the Pack lost at New England.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers has not changed his style, but the coach says the Detroit incident showed the team that Rodgers must be smart in those situations.

Redgers now wears a special helmet that at least somewhat protects him from concussions. He also slides more often, in which case defenders cannot hit him.

Center Jeff Saturday says Rodgers will slide if he knows he has a first down, but if he doesn’t, he’ll go for it instead of sliding prematurely.

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