Clay Matthews' preseason debut will have to wait another week.
Matthews, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker, did not make the trip to New England for the Green Bay Packers' game Thursday against the Patriots.
Matthews returned to practice Monday after missing a week because of a sore knee. He reported no problems after practice Tuesday but acknowledged that didn't necessarily mean he would play in the Packers' first preseason game.
"I'm preparing to be out there, but obviously, that's not my decision," Matthews said Tuesday. "I'm encouraged by getting out there back-to-back [days] and how I feel. We'll see what that means moving forward. ... We'll see if it's Thursday [or] next Sunday [at Pittsburgh]."
The Packers also will be without perhaps their best defensive lineman. Mike Daniels, who did not practice this week because of an ankle injury, did not make the trip.
In addition to Matthews, two other veteran linebackers -- Nick Perry and Mike Neal -- did not travel. Perry has a groin injury, and Neal missed the first two weeks of training camp recovering from bilateral hernia surgery. Neal returned to practice Monday on a limited basis.
In all, the Packers left 13 players at home. Others who didn't make the trip were first-round draft pick Damarious Randall (groin), defensive tackle Letroy Guion (hamstring), receiver Adrian Coxson (concussion), receiver Javess Blue (shoulder), cornerback Tay Glover-Wright (hamstring), safety Sean Richardson (pectoral), cornerback Demetri Goodson (calf), offensive tackle Vince Kowalski (concussion) and receiver Jared Abbrederis (concussion).
Coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday that anyone who traveled was likely to play, meaning quarterback Aaron Rodgers, running back Eddie Lacy and receiver Jordy Nelson -- all of whom were held out of the preseason opener last year -- should see the field Thursday.
